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llowers to contend against, and many middlings 
perhaps not less than fifteen or twenty pair ; 
above all, never lose sight of yom' choice com- 
post ; this, with care, does ivonders, and if you 
do not always come in first, you will stand a 
chance to be the second or third. 
The number of strong blooming plants you 
would like to keep, must rest entirely with 
yourself : this I have to say, if you keep ninety- 
six, or not exceeding one hundred, very strong 
single blooming plants, and do not encourage 
too much (if any) increase on them, this number 
will produce twelve pair, or twenty-four first- 
rate flowers, such as there will be very great 
difficulty to excel ; by the same rule, if you 
keep about fifty plants, they will produce you 
six pair, or twelve first-rates ; at the same time 
remember to preserve about one hundred and 
fifty young offsets always by you, to keep up 
your stock, or a number proportionate to the 
quantity you bloom. For my part, I think they 
keep too few sorts about London, for there are 
many beautiful sorts of Auriculas that would do 
to shew, were they to persevere and keep four or 
five plants of each sort; whereas, by having 
only a single plant, it is not giving a flower by 
any means a fair chance : — much might be said 
on this head, but I am fearful of making this 
