SHRUBBERIES AND FLOWER-GARDENS. CHAP. 



in September or February. It does in any soil, but likes 

 a moist and shady situation best. 



422. AURICULA. Lat. Primula Auricula. Fr. 



Oreille d'ours. A florist's flower, propagated by seed, 



rooted slips, and offsets. It is a native of Switzerland, 



but has been long a favourite plant with English, Dutch, 



and French florists. It is hardy, but, like the anemone 



and ranunculus, blows the better for care and protection 



in severe winters, and in the heat of summer. If you 



propagate from seed, sow in earthen pans or in boxes in 



December, or in March, and cover very lightly ; give an 



eastern aspect, and water gently now and then. When the 



plants have five or six leaves, transplant them into other ; 



boxes or pans, and let them have the same management -, 



and, when they become strong, put them out in your 



borders, where, when they flower, you can choose the 



most fitting for the purpose of potting. Slips you pull 



off with your hands, and offsets cut off with a sharp 



knife j both in the end of July, or beginning of August. 



The soil most suitable to this plant is a cool vegetable 



one j and the artificial mixtures are very numerous, but 



the one in most general use is half fresh garden mould 



and half well-rotted cow-dung. A little sea sand thrown 



in amongst it keeps it free. Auricula pots should be six 



indie's deep, and as large in circumference at the bottom 



as at the top ; water only in dry times - } and, in continued 



wet, lie the pots on their sides, unless you have a covered 



stage for them. Wooden bars to stand the pots on are 



very useful. They prevent too great a moisture getting 



at the roots of the plant, which is the case when the pots 





