142 CULTIVATION. 



with manured water (that is, such as has had 

 dung of cows, pouItr}% or pigeons, soaked in it) 

 is recommended to be used at this time, as well 

 as previously, for the purpose of imparting high 

 colour to the flowers. 



It is always desirable that the auricula should 

 blow fairly; i. e. that the petals of each floret 

 should expand in a plane, and be in no degree 

 cupped. This is considered among professional 

 florists so essential a property of a good flower, 

 that pains are taken to produce this characteristic 

 by exposing cupped flowers to the action of the 

 sun's heat, under glass, slightly shaded. And 

 besides this perfectly rational expedient to give 

 the desired form, they have also small ivory tools 

 with which they lock the petals under each other 

 and turn the outer edges downwards, to alter the 

 cup-like position. This is a refinement of taste 

 and management only felt and exercised by those 

 who exhibit their flowers at shows. 



Auriculas sometimes present their flowers in 

 autumn. This the florist regrets, because it pre- 

 vents a fine bloom in the proper season. It is 



