1870. ] 
ON COMPOSTS FOR THE AURlOULA. 
133 
Slow or gentle means will, in tlieir case, not suffice, and, tliat no delay whatever 
may occur, a mean of 60° or upwards must be started with. The same applies to 
very early forced Seahale or Illiuharh. When, by aid of excessive heat they have 
made a start, then it will be possible to somewhat reduce the temperature, though 
the mean given above should not be gone below during the after active growth, 
nnd until the actual blooms begin to expand, when a lower temperature will be 
more conducive to keeping them fresh as long as possible. 
Some plants, such as Primus triloba and its allies, will, if strongly grown, 
push young wood-buds in lieu of the flower-buds, which are expected. In all 
such instances it will be necessary, when these young shoots are long enough, to 
pinch each one back to the base, as this will induce the dormant blossom- 
buds on either side of each shoot so formed to push forth. 
It is best in all cases, when not pushed for time, to allow the blossoms on all 
forced plants to expand in a somewhat cooler temperature than that in which 
they are grown. Thereby they attain a better colour, and the flowers are of 
better substance, and likely to last the longer, whether left upon the plants or 
severed from them.— William Earley, Digswell, Wehvyn. 
ON COMPOSTS FOE THE AUKICULA. 
S regards the Compost best adapted for the healthy growth and preserva¬ 
tion of the Auricula, I believe that a sound, sweet, wholesome soil is the 
first consideration. The mixture which I have prepared and made use of for 
5 over thirty years has brought me the most complete success, and, there¬ 
fore, I cannot do better than describe it for the use of my readers. In the first 
place, I remark that I only make use of one kind of dung. Half-a-century ago 
Mr. Emmerton, of Barnet, near London, gave us his work on the culture of the 
Auricula, and with him I agree almost entirely, except indeed as regards his 
preparations for Composts, such nostrums not being, in my opinion, worth the 
trouble and expense of preparing them. His plan of management through the 
different seasons of the year is excellent, if duly followed out, but the labour and 
expense attending the procuring of the soils which he recommends I look upon as 
time lost and money spent to little purjDOse. Goose-dung, night-soil, sugar- 
bakers’ scum, bullocks’ blood, &c., having been got together, and having gone 
through all the processes recommended, are not a whit better for the purpose than 
the one plain simple manure, cow-dung, which is easily obtainable in all parts of 
the country. I am not writing against composts in a wholesale way, nor do I 
condemn them untried, for during the period from 1825 to 1832 I tried them 
fully up to the mark, as recommended in Mr. Emmerton’s work, and with pretty 
fair success. Subsequently to that date, however, I began to make up a compost 
which, after due consideration, I was persuaded would answer ; and so it did, 
much better, indeed, than Mr. Emmerton’s, leaving out of question the trouble 
and expense of procuring such costly ingredients. 
