204 
THE AURICULA. 
are placed in their winter quarters ; from this 
time begin to be more sparing of water, and 
consider them liable to frost. The proceedings 
with regard to seedlings may be continued as 
before in all respects in which they are appli- 
cable, except the transplanting those from the 
seed-pan to pots, in which they are to be one 
inch apart ; they must be kept from the ex- 
ternal air a few days, to get them somewhat 
established before they are treated like older 
plants : but as some seedlings grow faster than 
others, and they keep coming up in seed-pans 
until every seed has vegetated, the pans should 
be protected from the slightest frost ; and 
after the first part of this month they should 
not be removed. Nor are the flowers which 
come up now to be depended on for character 
sufficiently to throw any away on account of 
a deliciency in their colours. 
October. — A continuance of last month's 
treatment must be now observed, save and 
except, that there is still more danger of frost 
as we approach the winter; and, therefore, 
preparation must be made for covering in case 
of necessity. Water must be avoided, except 
when absolutely necessary; as the less they 
have the better, until they really want it. In 
mild weather, the glasses are best off alto- 
gether; but dry parching winds, and hot sun, 
(both of which are frequent in October) will be 
always better kept off by covering and shading. 
November. — This month may be consi- 
dered winter, so far as the management of 
this flower is concerned; plenty of air in mild 
weather, tilted lights, and light shading on 
bright warm days. Give no more water than 
is necessary to keep the earth from actually 
drying; and take particular care that seedlings 
and seed-pans are not permitted to be dry or 
distressed for moisture, as from the very 
small hold they have of the soil, the very 
surface drying would be fatal to their health 
and strength, if not to their existence. We 
must be careful, too, in the removal of yellow 
leaves, to throw them out of the frame, and 
to go over the plants several times in the 
month to get rid of them, for their very pre- 
sence creates damp and mildew. The frames 
must not be allowed to accumulate dirt, or 
falling leaves. Choose mild days to remove 
the pots out ; and well brush out the frames, 
and the floor of them ; for dirt and dead leaves 
will always be damp, and that is the greatest 
enemy the plant can have. In open weather, 
then, mind to uncover the frame, and when 
the sun is not too hot, let all the plants have 
the benefit of it. Cover from rains, and in 
every other respect let the directions for pre- 
vious months be a general guide. Let the 
covering from frost be light water-proof 
calico or canvass, that the light may not 
be excluded, for no plant can thrive in the 
dark ; and it should be remarked, that a thin 
water-proof covering, reaching to the ground 
all round the frames, is as effective as mattimr, 
which is dark ; and in most cases much more 
offensive. 
December. — This month, like one or two 
preceding, and January and February which 
follow, must be subject to the treatment most 
seasonable ; for in this country different sea- 
sons change the nature of these three or 
four winter-months sufficiently to make them 
change places with each other so far as the 
weather is concerned. It would be useless 
here to recapitulate the precautions we have 
given ; and the winter-months' treatment is 
but a series of precautions. We have little 
else to do but to point out the past and the 
January directions as complete guides for the 
cultivators in the management of the Au- 
ricula, and to offer a few closing remarks. 
It will be seen that by simple culture 
the Auricula can be kept in good health and 
bloomed in something bordering on perfection ; 
that there may be, by close observation, and 
judicious experiments on valueless plants, some 
improvement made in time, we do not dispute; 
that some of the nostrums recommended so 
indefinitely by our prdecessors, may have 
produced effects pleasing to them, we have 
no doubt ; but we have yet to learn whether 
our forefathers were good judges of the pro- 
perties which we now value ; whether, in fact, 
they did not fall into the error into which some 
younger growers even now fall, and value 
size, without considering the coarseness as 
a blemish, is to us doubtful. Indeed, so far 
as our experience goes back, (which is some- 
thing like thirty-five years,) the first pair of 
Auriculas in a show was always the largest; 
and even in our young days we have seen 
much more beauty and symmetry in the stands 
that have been placed low or rejected alto- 
gether, than we have in the winning blooms. 
It would be difficult to say how often we 
have seen very coarse specimens of Cockup's 
Eclipse, Grimes's Privateer, Lancashire Hero, 
and such like, win first prizes against what 
in our estimation were better flowers. We 
are, therefore, confirmed at present in our 
opinion, that taking colour, neatness, health of 
plant and general properties into considera- 
tion, we prefer very much the flowers we 
have seen grown under the treatment we have 
recommended, as far superior to those which 
have been grown stronger, longer, and (for we 
never saw an exception) coarser. Some of 
these days we may discover a liquid manure 
that may, by application at the time the flowers 
are expanding, increase the beauty and 
brighten the colours ; but were we to begin 
growing to-morrow, it would be on the prin- 
ciples we havehere laid down ; for the more 
