On the Cultivation of the Auricula 
57 
unless they are decayed; when it will be necessary, in order to get at the 
decayed part, which when you have done, break it off, for I have always 
found the blade of a knife very injurious, so much so, that I never saw 
one plant flourish again where the knife had been used. 
When you have ultimately completed potting, look very minutely 
into the hearts of the plants, for a small caterpillar, that lies concealed in 
a little web, which you will find by two or three leaves being bound to¬ 
gether by it, and which, if it be not destroyed, will entirely consume all 
the hearts of the plants. Be also careful at all times, not to pull off any 
leaves before they are dead, for by doing so a wound is made, into which 
the v/ater finds its way, and thus decays the plant: whenever this decay 
is perceived, scratch it out with your finger, and put a little tallow in the 
place to keep out the wet till it heals. 
In September, they should be placed in frames to stand through the 
winter, giving them as much air as is possible. 
Ill the beginning of February they must be top-dressed with the above- 
mentioned compost, having a little of the dung of sheep and fowls added 
to it; and with this treatment the plants will begin to show their flower- 
buds very fine, by the latter end of the month; they must still have all 
the air that can be given them by day, but closely shut down by night. 
About the end of March or beginning of April, when they begin to 
expand their flowers, they must be particularly protected from rains and 
the mid-day sun, which may be done by placing boards about five inches 
square, upon a stick over the pips, as you would shade a carnation, letting 
the leaves of the plants remain fully exposed to the sun. 
When the trusses are formed, if there are more buds than can con¬ 
veniently bloom, cut out the small and middle ones, only reserving about 
five, and never more than ten. 
If these instructions be attended to, magnificent perfect flowers may 
be expected; if they are of a green-edged variety, they ought to have a 
fine, round, yellow tube, with a circular, clear, white eye, the ground 
colour a dark purple, the edges a fine green, and perfectly level; also as 
it regards the grey ones, they must be well pounced with farina, and the 
white must be good and clear. 
This is the method I have used, and though simple, may, from my 
own experience, be adopted with success. 
I am. Gentlemen, 
Pitsmoor, > &c., &c. 
June 2 i 5/, 18 31. f Jo HN RevELL. 
V'oL. 1, No. 2. 
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