1875. ] 
NOTES ON AURICULAS. 
165 
Coming down to Bush Fruits, what differences in the per-centage of sugar 
we find in the different varieties of Gooseberries , Currants , and Raspberries! 
Yet are they all cooked and preserved on the limp principle of pound per pound, 
or so much per pound, all round. Strawberries are often totally ruined by an 
excess or a deficiency of sugar, arising from an utter disregard of the per-centage 
already existing in different varieties. This not only varies with the sorts, but 
likewise with the seasons, and some general means should be devised for testing, 
with sufficient approximation to exactness, the per-centage of sugar before the 
fruit is preserved. 
But my chief object here now is to advocate the cultivation of the sweetest 
varieties of fruits chiefly or only, and thus to secure the sugar in our fruit- 
puddings and pies, and as much as practicable of it in our preserves, free of cost. 
— D. T. Fish, Hardwicke. 
NOTES ON AURICULAS. 
gA^UBICULAS, both Show and Alpine, should now be in cold frames, under 
a north wall or hedge, but where they can be protected from heavy rains, 
¥ and shaded from hot sun. They are here to mature their growth and 
ripen their seed, if any have been allowed to carry seed-pods. Plenty of 
air and sufficient moisture is what are required to minister to their well-being. 
Young shoots have come up, or are coming up, from the collar of the plant, and 
by means of these off-shoots any one variety is propagated. Some throw off 
these side-shoots very sparingly, and only at intervals—generally some fine sorts 
of which it is very difficult to get a stock, and which is in frequent demand. 
Growers vary somewhat as to the time for potting. In all probability, as 
early as possible in the season is the best time, but regard must be had to the 
fitness of the off-shoots for potting. Before they are stripped from the parent 
plant they ought to be furnished with some rootlets, so as to lay hold of the soil 
when potted. According to their size, they should be placed in large or small 
60 -pots, and placed in a cold frame, and kept cool and fairly moist till estab¬ 
lished. A nurseryman likes to get the young plants firmly set in their pots 
before sending them out in the autumn. 
On one occasion, when narrating his experience with the Auricula, the late 
Mr. George Lightbody—in his day a Nestor among Auricula-cultivators—said : 
“ Some of our fine show Auriculas are so inclined to split into increase that, 
except rubbing off the eyes when decayed leaves are removed, and other expedients 
are resorted to, plants of this habit cannot be kept up to blooming size. Persons 
wishing to keep their collection in proper order for bloom, should not allow 
many off-sets to form. My own practice is never to allow more than two off-sets 
to form at one time on the strongest growers, and only one on the weaker. Off¬ 
sets of this description can be got up to blooming size in a year or two, whereas 
when a plant is allowed to run wild, it will take many years to bring its progeny 
into that condition.” Was the Auricula more prodigal of off-sets with that 
