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ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE AURICULA. 



Among the numerous favourites of the flower-garden, no one has been longer 

 held in estimation or attracted more notice than the auricula. Ever since this 

 plant has been transferred from its native mountains to the flower-garden, it has 

 been treated and ranked as a stage flower. Florists designate the objects of 

 their care into stage, bed, and border flowers. The first are cultivated in pots ; 

 the second on raised beds ; and the last are distributed all over the plots and 

 borders of the garden in the natural soil. 



The auricula being naturally fond of a dry situation and dry air, is found to 

 succeed better in pots upon a raised stage, and where it can be protected from 

 immoderate rain and ardent sunshine, than when planted in the open ground, 

 exposed to all weathers. That too much moisture is inimical to the plant is 

 evident, from a natural covering of soft meal spread over both the leaves and 

 flowers, and which sheds the drops of rain effectually ; and this property is an 

 indication to the cultivator to keep his plants always sheltered from heavy rain! 



The inflorescence of this plant is expanded in elegant trusses, beautifully 

 formed, richly coloured, and exquisitely scented ; of course it has always been a 

 choice flower among amateurs as well as professional florists, and the methods of 

 culture are definite though not generally known. 



Auriculas are raised from seed to originate new varieties, and the old sorts are 

 propagated by slips. Plants which are extended to yield seeds are called 

 breeders. These are removed away from the collection, and placed in company 

 with such estimable sorts as will have a tendency to improve by the intermixture 

 of their pollen the seeds of the breeders. This intermixture or impregnation of 

 the inferior flowers with the pollen of superior sorts may be effected by manual 

 assistance ; and it is usual among florists to lend this assistance, rather than trust 

 entirely to the action of the wind, or of insects, the natural agents in this affair. 



The breeders should be placed where they may receive the morning and 

 evening sun, but not that of noon. All the smallest and decayed pips should be 

 cut out with scissors, the strongest only being left to mature seed. When the 

 seed-vessels become dry and brown, they may be gathered and kept in a place 

 not too dry, till January or February, when the seeds may be shaken out and 

 sown. They may be sown in boxes or seed-pans, well drained, and filled with 

 fine compost, being pressed smoothly down half an inch below the rim, and 

 the surface raised a little in the middle. Sow regularly, and cover with a very 

 light coat of sifted compost. Water lightly, and place the pans in a mild hotbed, 

 where there is neither too much moisture nor too much mid-day sun ; that is, they 

 should be shaded from the latter. The seed-pans should be raised as near to the 

 glass as possible ; so necessary is this for assisting the germination of the seeds, 

 that growers usually cover the pans with flat pieces of glass. Should the surface 



VOL, II. NO. XX. OCTOBER. r 



