386 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



water lodges in the heart of the plant. Give them plenty of air 

 at all times, and losses will be few and far between. 



Soon as ever a green -fly shows itself kill it at once, and thus 

 prevent thousands soon following, and don't forget that this dirty 

 pest not only spoils the appearance of the plant, but also feeds 

 upon it. The best remedy against the beast is a little patience, 

 and a soft-haired brush ; with a small brush and determined 

 application a plant is soon cleaned. I am satisfied soft-soap and 

 all other nostrums are positively injurious to the plant, and my 

 advice is, Don't use them. 



There is also another little wretch that lives and thrives upon 

 the roots of the plant, called the woolly aphis. This silvery- coated 

 gentleman is difficult to get rid of. At repotting time, when I 

 come across it, I shake all the soil from the plants and well wash 

 the roots, and thus for a time the plants are tolerably free from 

 it. Should it congregate around the neck of the plant at any 

 time, remove a little soil and dislodge it with a small brush. Time 

 was when growers were greatly alarmed at it, but time has proved 

 that it is not so destructive as was at first apprehended, and very 

 few collections are now free from it. 



The most essential thing towards the successful cultivation 

 of the flower is a proper compost, and without it it is not to be 

 expected that the plant can be grown to any degree of excellence. 



This should consist of two-thirds good fat fibrous loam, and 

 one-third rotten leaves and well-decayed horse manure ; add to 

 this sufficient coarse sand, or granulated charcoal, to make the 

 whole porous when pressed into the pots. This simple compost 

 will keep the plant in health and vigour. Avoid artificial manures 

 and stimulants of all kinds, or else, like the drunken man, the 

 plants will go soft. Next in importance to the soil is the size of 

 the pots, and here so many make the fatal error of having them 

 much too large ; a pot inches across is large enough for the 

 most vigorous plant, and many will thrive better in pots from 

 3 to 4 inches in diameter. No hard-and-fast rule can here be laid 

 clown ; use pots according to the size and vigour of the variety. 



Watering is at all times a most important feature in Auricula 

 culture ; never let them get dust dry, and never keep them sod- 

 dened. Both are great evils. Try and hit the happy medium. 



There are but few secrets worth knowing in Auricula cul- 

 ture, and here they are : 



