346 THE PLEASURE, OR [April. 
When the pips become turgid, and begin to expand, they must 
be preserved from rain; nor should the early plants be suffered to 
remain in a situation exposed to cold winds; on the contrary, they 
ought to be selected from the rest, and removed to a shady corner, 
where they should have hand-glasses suspended over them, or 
placed on brick-bats or the like to admit air, and yet preserve the 
expanding bloom from rain. 
The farina or mealy dust which overspreads and ornaments the 
surface of those flowers, contributes exceedingly to their lustre 
and beauty; this must therefore be preserved upon them; the least 
shower of rain would easily wash it off; it is also liable to be blown 
away by the winds; and the sun,^ if permitted to shine freely on the 
flowers, would occasion them soon to fade. 
Therefore, where it is required to have the more curious or 
choice varieties to blow in the best perfection, the pots containing 
the plants should, according as the flowers begin to open, be imme- 
diately removed and placed on the shelves of the auricula stage or 
where the flowers may be protected occasionally from such wea- 
ther as would deface the bloom. The stand or stage should have 
from three to five ranges of shelves, in proportion to the number of 
pots, about six inches wide, rising theatre-like, one above another, 
iVom the front; having the back generally placed against a shady 
wall, pale, or other building; it must be constantly covered at top, 
water-tight, sloping to the back part; but the front and ends should 
only be covered occasionally by having some canvass or mats fas- 
tened thereto by way of curtain, so contrived that it may be readily 
let down and drawn up at pleasure; which, when the air is very 
sharp, or in high winds, or driving rains, must be let down to shel- 
ter the flowers; but vv^hen the weather is mild and calm, let the 
front and ends be constantly open. Or this may also be used 
occasionally to shade the flowers from the sun, where it has access 
in the heat of the day; observing, however, generally, not to let 
the screen remain longer than is necessary for the defence of the 
bloom. 
Regular waterings should be given during the time the plants 
are on the stage; examine them once every day to see where water 
is wanted, and let such pots as stand in need of that article be 
immediately supplied with it. In doing this sutler no water to fall 
on the flowers, for that would wash ofi"the afore-mentioned farina- 
ceous bloom, and greatly deface their beauty. 
The waterings should be moderate and frequent; for these 
plants being rather of a succulent nature cannot bear too much 
without material injury. 
Keep the surface of the pots perfectly neat, free from weeds and 
every sort of litter; suffer no decayed leaves to remain on the 
plants, but let such, as soon as they appear, be taken off'. 
By thus placing your auricula pots on a covered stage, it not 
only preserves the flowers much longer in beauty, but you also 
more readily view them, and they show themselves to much greater 
advantage than when placed on the ground. 
The shelves and back of the stage should be painted black, or of 
