Book II. 



AURICULA. 



849 



this should be repeated annually (notwidistanding the opinion of some who say the plants 

 blooJTi better the second year after potting) for this obvious reason, that it preserves the 

 health and constitution of the plants, by affording them a fresh supply of nutriment ; 

 and at the same time the cultivator has an opportunity of curtailing their fibres, if grown 

 very long, or of cutting ojfF the lower part of the main root, if too long, or the end of it, 

 if decayed ; thereby forcing tiie plants, as it were, into a state of action, and causing a 

 continued circulation of their juices, during the summer, in the formation of new fibres 

 for their necessary sustenance and support : whereas, if this operation of potting is not 

 performed till the second year, the soil must have lost a considerable part of its nutritious 

 quality, which will produce a pi'oportionate decline in the strength of the plants : and if 

 it be deferred till the autumn, there M'ill not be time for a sufficient reproduction of the 

 fibres before winter sets in, the eflfects of which will be a faint-colored and weak bloom 

 the ensuing spring. The only objection of any importance, agaiixst spring potting, is 

 that some sorts will in consequence be more inclined to blow in the following autumn, 

 and thereby deprive tli^ plant of its capacity to bloom well the ensuing spring ; this, 

 however, occurs but in few instances. 



6361. In potting or fransplanfing auriculas, the plants should be carefully turned out of the former pot, 

 and the earth shaken from its fibres, which should be curtailed if found too long and numerous, together 

 v. ith the lower end of the main root, and the fibres attached to that part, if it appears too long, or some- 

 v/hat decayed ; the plant is to be at the same time carefully examined, and wherever any unsoundness 

 appears, it must be entirely eradicated by means of a sharp penknife, let the extent of it be ever so great, 

 till no appearance of decay remains; particularly in that part of the main root where it enters the surface 

 of the earth, or, as the sailors phrase it, betwixt wind and water, which, being alternately wet and dry, is 

 more subject to decay than any other part, and for the same reason is the most difficult to heal : the 

 wounded part should-be immediately exposed to the sun, and when the surface of the wound is perfectly 

 dry, a cement should be applied, consisting of bees' wax and pitch, about one half of each, warmed and 

 softened in the sun, or by a fire, to make it adhere more firmly on application : this will become close and 

 hard when cold, it will resist moisture, and is the best application yet discovered, to prevent further pro- 

 gress of the decay. Whenever the lower leaves of the plant, next the surface of the earth, become yel- 

 low, or dried up, it is proper to strip them off, in a direction downwards. On replanting, a pot suitable to 

 the size of the plant is to be selected; it is to have a hollow oyster-shell placed with its convex side up- 

 wards, over the hole at the bottom, and then to be about three parts filled with compost, higher in the 

 middle than at the sides : the plant is next to be placed thereon, with its fibres regularly distributed 

 all round, so as nearly or quite to reach the sides of the pot, which is afterwards to be filled up with the 

 compost, adding a little clean coarse sand close round the stem of the plant, on the surface : the bottom 

 of the pot should then be gently struck two or three times against the table, which is supposed to be made 

 use of for the sake of convenience in the operation, in order to render the soil more firm and compact ; 

 tills will cause it to sink or subside about half an inch below the top of the pot, which will prevent the loss 

 of water when it is administered. 



6362. The true depth to plant an auricula is within about half an inch of the bottom of its lowest or 

 outside leaves ; as the new and most valuable fibres proceed from that part, so they should immediately 

 meet with earth to strike into, or otherwise they will perish: it will likewise encourage the offsets, if 

 there be any, to strike root sooner than they would do if not in contact with the soil. {Florist's Direct. 

 129.) 



6363. On the foregoing directions, by Maddock, his editor, Curtis, has the following note : " Notwith- 

 standing the author has so particularly recommended the annual fresh potting of auriculas, we must beg 

 leave to differ in opinion from him, as far as relates to those plants which are intended to bloom strong 

 the following spring, the mode of potting advised being to shake the whole of the earth from amongst the 

 fibres of the plant, in order to examine the lower end of the main root, this severe operation being per- 

 formed in the spring, when the plants ought to bemaking their most luxuriant growth, will have evil conse- 

 quences. The case is simply this : the plant being firmly established, nature intends its greatest growth 

 in the spring ; during this rapid growth, the operation gives an unnatural shock to vegetation ; the con- 

 sequence is, the plant must remain dormant until fresh fibres are formed sufficient to draw nourishment 

 for supporting tlie growth necessary to form a strong-blooming plant. Having given our opinion against 



»jt, we substitute the following recommendation : select those plants intended for strong blooms the following 

 sjiring from the younger ones, turn them out with their balls of earth entire, and if the fibres are healthy, 

 return the balls into a set of pots one size larger than they were in before, adding new compost to fill up : 

 we have no objection to remove as much earth as can be done without disturbing the mass of fibfe ; in 

 this state treat them as usual, and when those which have bloomed strong on this plan are out of bloom, 

 put them on the plan recommended by the author. We beg leave also to notice, that it sometimes hap- 

 pens that the oyster-shell placed at the bottom of the pot by fitting too close confines the water in it, which 

 is inevitable destruction to the plant ; we should advise particular care to be taken for the efl^ectual 

 drainage of a superabundance of wet, by putting two or three pieces of broken pot over the surface of the 

 bottom." 



6364. Emmerton disapproves both of spring and autumn transplanting, and says, 

 " the best time for the operation is soon after they are out of bloom ; say about the 22(1 

 or 23d of May;" but he adds, — 



6365. From the 29th of May to the V2th of June, I have transplanted my flowers with great success, 

 even also as late as the 13Ui of July. On no account remove a general collection a week later, at least, 

 those you intend to bloom very strong : by this means they will have three or four months to get well 

 rooted before winter, which they ought to have; and if you transplant them early in the spring, it will be 

 so near their time of blov/ing, that the check they will receive by transplanting will prevent their blooming 

 strong. Strong-blowing roots should not be removed more than once in two years ; to do it oftener would 

 be to run a risk of not having any fine flowers to exhibit on your stage ; because these plants never thrive 

 rightly, till the roots have reached the sides of the pots, and it seldom or never happens that they get suf- 

 ficiently well established in a full-sized auricula-pot, in one year. By no means remove your large-bloom- 

 ing auricula-plants in dry hot weather, as by shaking the mould clean out of the plant the roots will not 

 freely draw fresh fibres, except the weather is inclined to be showery, and what is termed a cool moist air. 

 I am satisfied dry hot weather is an improper time, except they are fine young maiden plants, in small 

 pots, which should be slipped out of the pot with the whole ball of earth, and then immediately planted 

 in a full-sized blooming-pot for the ensuing season ; in this last case I used to pay no attention wbatev-er 

 to the dry weather. If your large-blooming plants have not been removed for two or three vears, their 



