144 CULTIVATION. 



dity. The rich qualities of the compost in which 

 they grow are peculiarly acted on by the summer 

 heat ; and this, not having due ventilation, be- 

 comes corrupted, producing- sickness among the 

 plants often fatal. The fact is, they cannot have 

 too much dry air during the summer, provided 

 they are duly supplied with water. The consti- 

 tution of the auricula requires pure air ; and 

 therefore the summer stage or platform should 

 receive all the advantage of free air, guarded only 

 from the mid-day sun and from excessive rain. 



That this plant is subject to disease, and that 

 it frequently appears in the summer, are circum- 

 stances w^ell known. Mr. Hogg attributes this 

 malady to there being too much cow-dung used 

 in the compost, and especially if the plants be 

 kept in a low, moist situation : yet, though Mad- 

 dock admits that improper soil may be the cause 

 of the misfortune, he is rather of opinion that it 

 is a consequence of the neglect of shifting after 

 the flowering season ; adding, most unaccount- 

 ably, that this malady seldom or never occurs 

 in a wet or cool climate ! 



