HARDY FLOWERS 



77 



THE TERRACE STEPS, I'EN HOUSE. 



same way, keeping them nearer the light in winter, but 

 further from it, and for prelerenee upon a cool ash 

 bottom, in the summer. 



When the weather is very warm, especially in spring, 

 green fly and other insect pests begin to trouble Auriculas, 

 as well as flowers in general ; hut they can be quickly 

 eradicated if attacked at once. When destructive 

 measures are not quickly taken, the plant suffers, and 

 the chances of success at the exhibition are considerably 

 reduced. A small brush and soapy water will get rid ol 

 green-flv, or tobacco-water and soft soap, dipping the 

 leaves in the mixture. When the visitation of insect foes 

 is severe, recourse must be had to fumigation, using the 

 XL Fumigator or similar contrivance. Watchfulness will 

 prove a sure safeguard. The best policy is to destroy 

 the flies before they have established themselves upon the 

 juicy leaves. 



In potting it is a great mistake to use pots larger than 

 needful, and generally the practice of the leading culti- 

 vators is to use 3m. or ain. pots, according to the size of 

 the plants. When' dealing with the offsets, that is basal 

 shoots of the old plants, put them into very small pots, 

 and in both instances use for soil a mixture composed of 

 two-thirds sweet, well-decayed turfy loam, free from wire- 

 worms, and not made too fine, adding to this old hot- 

 bed manure, well-decayed leaf-mould, crushed charcoal, 

 and w hite sharp sand. This is an excellent compost for 

 all sections and in all stages, but in the case of seedlings 

 or offsets a rather larger proportion of sand may be 

 added. Avoid those strange and fearful nostrums advised 

 in old books concerning the Auricula. Happily they are 

 not used nowadays, so that a warning to avoid them 

 is perhaps unnecessary. The pots must be carefully 

 drained, putting in plenty of crocks, and on these a lew 

 bits of charcoal, then some coarse pieces of soil to 

 keep the finer particles of the staple from running down 

 amongst the drainage and preventing a free egress of 

 water. Always have thoroughly clean pots, and when 

 these are new soak them for some hours before use. 



A favourite way of raising Auriculas is by" seed, but, as 

 previously mentioned, it one contemplates growing the 

 plants for exhibition, begin with a named collection of 

 the finest kinds in the several sections. Auricula seed 

 germinates very slowly, so much so that sometimes 

 several months elapse before the last seedling appears, 

 this too very likely the most beautiful. When the seed 

 is very choice, sow it in shallow pans or boxes, carefully 

 drained and filled with light soil ; sow thinly, pressing 

 the seed into the soil, then watering with extreme care, 

 otherwise the seed w ill be washed to one side of the pan. 

 Place the pan, or whatever the receptacle may be, in a 

 greenhouse or frame, and cover with a thin piece of glass, 

 or even paper, to act as a shade until the seed germinates, 

 when pricking off must commence. When large enough 

 to handle w ith comfort, they may be put singly into quite 

 surall pots. Insects must be watched for, slugs in par- 

 ticular, and the soil maintained in an even condition ol 

 moisture to prevent damping off. The cultivation of 

 exch group is generally the same from seed. It is later 

 on that the routine of culture must be varied, as to grow, 

 for example, the show or alpine varieties out of doors 

 would be to court failure. Their wonderful colouring is 

 only intensified when the plants are shielded from the 

 weather; a green-edged Auricula would prove an ineffec- 

 tive flower away from the greenhouse or frame. The 

 show sections may be distinguished by their usually 

 mealy foliage, the flowers having round the eyes a ring 

 ot dense white paste, next to which in the edged varieties 

 is a dark-coloured ground, then a margin of white, grey, 

 or green. In the self show flowers there is the w hite 

 ring of paste also, and the ground colour is a pure sell 

 blue, purple, maroon, or similar hue. Alpines have 

 pure green foliage only, and only sell or shaded flowers, 

 those possessing gold centres being the most beautiful. 



As regards sowing seed, this is best done as soon as it 

 is ripe, but perhaps some difficulty may be encountered 

 in procuring new seed — if so, sow in spring; and seed- 

 lings of the show and alpine sections require a space ol 



