CULTURE OF THE AURICULA. 
51 
small, and not very obvious causes. The Auricula is just such a 
plant. It is highly bred, and exceedingly prone to break into 
varieties ; and the soil in which it is grown being the circumstance 
connected with its growth over which man has the greatest 
control, it necessarily follows that more quackery is exercised 
here than in any thing else connected with its culture 5 among 
the older cultivators especially, who are still in the rear, and who 
mistake trial for experience, and consider their own practice the 
very best in the world. Soils or composts in which Auriculas 
may be successfully grown, are very numerous ; and though many 
of them are in all probability much the same in their effects, every 
cultivator thinks his own the very best, and cherishes it as a 
treasure whereof he has the exclusive possession. 
A very intelligent grower of our acquaintance, not an Auricula 
fancier, certainly, nor a fancier of any particular flower, but a 
general cultivator, who understands all flowers, and good means— 
if not the very best means—of treating them, is of opinion, that a 
few single and simple substances, whereof neither the cost nor the 
labour bears any proportion to those of such as are commonly in 
use, are all that is necessary. What he recommends is a com¬ 
post, consisting in great part of rich light yellow loam, mixed 
with a due proportion of leaf-mould, of which he prefers beech 
leaves in a state of partial decomposition, together with some 
of the small twigs; to this he adds a small portion of clean 
sharp sand,—sea sand, if he can get it, and if not, river sand,_ 
or better, run sand from the channels of small streams, but pit 
sand, of any description, is bad. This compost is to be kept 
for not shorter time than twelve months, and the longer the 
better ; and it is to be frequently turned, but not reduced to a 
smaller consistency than it is of naturally, excepting so far as that 
may be produced by the act of turning it over. This compost 
bears a very considerable resemblance to the soil in which the 
plant grows naturally. Richer composts, or composts consisting 
of a greater number of ingredients, are also recommended ; and 
many recommend two composts—a poorer one for common 
growth, and a richer one for top-dressing. Instead of the leaf- 
mould, or along with it, the litter of sheep-cotes, consisting of 
chopped and half decomposed hay with droppings of the sheep, is 
also used ; and the richer composts have an admixture of the 
.droppings of poultry, blood, sugar bakers’ scum, and other matters. 
