130 CULTIVATION. 



roots, it persists on its natural propensity for 

 pure air and dry situations ; insomuch, that no 

 care or attention, it is said, can make it prosper 

 in contrary circumstances. 



The different substances which have been em- 

 ployed in composing a soil for the auricula, are 

 maiden or fresh loam ; the droppings of sheep, 

 horses, or oxen; desiccated or very old night- 

 soil ; dimg of pigeons, poultry, and particularly 

 that of geese ; blood from slaughter-houses ; 

 sugar-baker's scum; leaf mould; moor earth; 

 ashes of burnt vegetables ; and sea or river sand. 



Some curious cultivators have used certain 

 portions of all these substances together ; but, as 

 Mr. Hogg observes, not to the advantage of their 

 plants, but the reverse. One famous grower used 

 only one-third loam, two-thirds sheep-dung and 

 well rotted hay litter from sheep-houses, and one- 

 tenth coarse sand. This answered the purpose 

 well. Mr. Hogg's own compost is made of one- 

 third fresh yellow loam, one-third well rotten 

 cow-dung, one-third night-soil two years old, 

 one-third leaf mould, and one-tenth sea or river 



