THE AURICULA. 275 
mon, with the turf well-rotted; one barrow-load of leaf. 
mould, another of cow-dung, two years old at least; and 
one peck of river, not sea sand. For strong plants in- 
tended for exhibition, add to the same composition, as a 
stimulant, a barrowful of well-decayed night-soil, with the 
application of a liquid manure before the top-dressing in 
February, and twice more, but not oftener, in March, A 
portion of light, sandy, peat-earth may be added, as a safe 
and useful ingredient, particularly for plants kept in low 
damp situations.” 
Auriculas may be propagated from seed. It is to be 
sown in January or February in boxes, which are kept 
‘under cover, and exposed only to the rays of the morning 
sun. When seed has been saved from the finer sorts, the 
operation is one of considerable nicety, as it not unfre- 
quently happens that the best seedlings are at first excced- 
ingly weak. The judicious grower never neglects these, 
but rather nourishes them with double cure. They gene- 
rally flower in the second or third year; and the florist is 
fortunate who obtains three or four good sorts out of a 
large sowing. The established varieties are increased by 
dividing the roots, an operation which is performed in 
July or in the beginning of August. 
Fine Auriculas are grown in pots about five or six 
inches in diameter; the longer or deeper, so much the 
better. These are kept in frames, or stages, constructed 
for the purpose. For winter, perhaps, there is nothing 
better than a common hotbed frame, as this admits of an 
exact adjustment of air and temperature, things to which 
attention is absolutely necessary, as the plants approach 
the flowering season in the end of March. After tho 
bloom is over, or in the beginning of June, the pots may 
be placed on stages slightly clevated and facing the north. 
