PRI 
PRI 
if the pan be covered with a piece of ; 
glass. With respect to watering at this 
stage, we prefer to use moist soil, and : 
then it requires no water till the seed¬ 
lings are up. As soon as they can be 
seeii generally over the surface of the 
soil, set them out into a cold frame, and 
by degrees harden them to bear the full 
influence of the air, and when large 
enough to be safely handled, prick them 
into other pots, at about two inches 
apart, using a mixture resembling that 
in which they were sown; it will be ne-‘ 
cessary to continue them in the frame 
through the greater part of the first sum¬ 
mer, taking the precaution to turn it 
from the sun, and to shade them from 
strong light. The pots and floor of the 
frame should be watered every evening, 
admitting a good share of fresh air every 
day. After they have become esta¬ 
blished, and as the season advances, the 
supply may be continued at night, until 
by July they will bear to be left unco¬ 
vered altogether. In August arrives the 
regular shifting season, and as the seed¬ 
lings will have by this time attained a 
size entitling them to be treated as ma¬ 
ture plants, we shall continue their ma¬ 
nagement as such. The first week in 
the month is usually considered the best 
period for a general repotting. The soil, 
pots, &c., being all ready, the operation 
should be got through as speedily as 
possible, as their roots receive consider¬ 
able injury if allowed to get dry by ex¬ 
posure. On the subject of soil a diver¬ 
sity of opinion exists; _ our own opinion 
is, that the simplest mixture, containing 
the necessary richness and of proper 
texture, must be the best, and as such 
recommend the following: two parts 
loam, rich and friable, with the turf rot¬ 
ted in it, one part thoroughly decayed 
leaf-mould, and one part equally decom¬ 
posed hotbed manure, with an additional 
part (equal to the last) of pure silver 
sand; this will grow a general collec¬ 
tion well, and there is nothing delete¬ 
rious or to be feared in the mixture. 
Decayed two-year-old night-soil and peat- 
in equal parts will greatly improve the 
green edges of some varieties, particu¬ 
larly Page's Champion, but unless it is 
just in the proper condition when ap¬ 
plied, the destruction of the plant en¬ 
sues, so that it is not quite safe in the 
hands of a beginner. Indeed, on the 
whole, we prefer to leave all these extra 
stimulants to be applied at the spring 
dressing, for by the great law of vege¬ 
table nature the plants cannot be in a fit 
state to assimilate or make use of such 
strong food through the winter months. 
As the plants are turned out in the pro¬ 
cess of potting, their roots should be 
carefully examined, and all decayed parts 
cut away; the long root stock of old ones 
shortened, and the points of the longer 
main roots which are deficient of fibres 
removed; they should then be distri¬ 
buted equally throughout the soil, and 
pressed firmly into their places; after a 
gentle watering, return the plants to 
their places, and guard them from strong 
sun light, heavy rains, &c., allowing 
them from this time onward till the win¬ 
ter all the air they can receive. Perhaps 
the best situation for auriculas through 
the summer is one which is open only 
to the morning sun; the pots should 
stand on a wooden trellis stage, that air 
may pass under them, or if this cannot 
be had, spread a thick layer of ashes, 
and place the pots on it. Wooden shut¬ 
ters should be provided to protect them 
from sun and rain, unless they are grown 
in boxes, in which case the latter should 
be elevated four or five inches from the 
ground, and the lights, covered with 
mats, must be used in the place of shut¬ 
ters. About the beginning of October 
it will become necessary to remove them 
to their winter position; this should 
have a full southern aspect, and then 
glazed frames or pits are essential. By 
all means elevate the pots as much as 
possible, and for the next six weeks or 
two months let the plants have the be¬ 
nefit of air on all occasions, unless it 
• should freeze severely. During Novem- 
■ ber and two following months the appli- 
■ cation of water is the most important 
. feature of their management; it is ne- 
, cessary to keep them just moistened, 
: but by no means should anything like a 
- free use of the fluid be indulged in. 
i With the succeeding February begins 
