69 
where the generality of florists have been de- 
feated, by not knowing the different qualities 
of soils or manures fit for the Auricula, and 
more particularly the exact proportionate quan- 
tity of each sort to be put together (they 
trusted too much to chance) for by putting too 
much of some sorts of manure would prove 
almost poison^ and rather serve to kill and 
destroy your plants than to nourish them. I 
know two instances of this, the one was with 
night soil, and the other with sugar-baker’s 
scum. 
A few days ago, when I was with an elderly 
gentleman and an old brother florist, 30th 
April, 1815, Mr. H s of Hampstead, and 
whose name stands high among flower fan- 
ciers ; he is considered a fine bloomer both of 
Auriculas and carnations. Unfortunately the 
worthy old gentleman was full of complaints 
as to his Auricula plants, they having gone on 
badly ever since the last season, and his stock 
having decreased by dying off* in great num- 
bers. I then interrogated him veiy closely as 
to the Compost he grew them in this last sea- 
son ; with some reluctance he at length can- 
didly confessed, the Compost he had procured 
and planted them in was all haphazard. I re- 
plied, Haphazard was considered a fine race- 
