260 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
keeping the soil dry becomes apparent, for it will be found that 
after three or four days’ freezing, it is as perfectly incapable of 
supporting the plants as though it had been exposed for the 
same period to the effects of a summer’s sun. To avoid this, 
let me advise the Auricula grower to give a full watering when¬ 
ever a favourable opportunity occurs in such weather, so that 
the soil may hold plenty of moisture when likely to be frozen 
hard. It may be said, the presence of extra water will but 
increase the intensity of the frost; but I can assure all who 
object, that the plants are sufferers to a much greater amount, 
when, from the dryness of the earth, the moisture of their sys¬ 
tems is absorbed. Every one must know something of the 
parching influence of a continued frost; and as it is imprac¬ 
ticable to supply them with an addition through the frozen 
surface of the soil; and, moreover, we can never do more than 
guess at the probable duration of any kind of weather, it is 
well to be prepared on all occasions. What I particularly wish 
to advance is, that Auriculas should always have an abundance 
of moisture in the earth about them, on the approach of frosty 
weather that is likely to be of continued character, every care 
being taken at the same time to prevent its lodgement among 
the leaves of the plant. Florista. 
REMARKS ON THE HYACINTH. 
HxAlPpening to pass a good portion of last summer on the Con¬ 
tinent, and my taste for flowers leading me very frequently into 
the society of those who grew them, I was enabled to glean a 
few particulars which may be useful; and if you wish it will 
communicate them as opportunity offers. 
One piece of intelligence it is essential should be known 
directly, as it relates to the Hyacinth and Narcissus, flowers 
that occupy a good deal of attention at this period of the year. 
The greater part of those I saw, and they were not a few, wore 
an unkindly appearance, denoting an imperfect growth: the 
flower-stems were cramped, or turning at about half their length, 
grew downwards, instead of the erect robust appearance one 
might expect to witness, when growing in what.may be termed 
