86 
THE AURICULA. 
diminution of heat, is alike irremediable; consequently, all attempts 
at hastening or retarding till they are full blown, must be avoided 
as tending only to disappointment. The period at which the 
flowers are most susceptible of injury in this way, is when they 
begin to open, or are partially unfolded, and some kinds are 
more readily affected than others; Conqueror of Europe is 
amongst the worst, often progressing satisfactorily till three 
parts open, and then suddenly becoming fixed, the florets re¬ 
maining in a cup-like form till they die; cautiously, then, must 
they be regarded onwards, till fully expanded, maintaining about 
them an equable temperature, by carefully covering them with 
mats at night, and a liberal admission of air on fine days, with 
partial shade in clear sunny weather. As regards their station, 
there is no place more fitting than beneath hand-lights, near the 
foot of an east wall, or if such a spot does not occur, let them 
stand completely open, the mid-day sun may be warded off, or 
its power reduced, as occasion may point out; but it is essential 
that they receive the vivifying effects of his first beams in the 
morning, and those of the evening may also be regarded as bene¬ 
ficial, though of less consequence. 
To prevent accidents, it is well to have a small stick to each 
truss, tying it loosely; and to enable each pip to open fairly and 
flat, some soft wool or wadding should be so placed between 
them as to remove the larger from immediate contact with those 
less developed, and with a pair of ivory tweezers, all curled petals 
should be carefully opened and laid in their places ; this will pro¬ 
bably require looking to daily, and must be repeated on such as 
do not recline properly in their places. 
Among the tricks in which some of our old florists delighted, 
was that of placing small leaden weights upon these “ cockle 
pips,” the effect of which may be readily supposed to be the 
death of the floret; but constant attention to their arrangement 
when opening, will usually prevent any disposition to curl, 
though much care is necessary in the manipulation, lest the paste 
be cracked, and thus, by avoiding Scylla, we fall into Cliarybdis. 
Very obstinate cases are better removed at once, for the blemish, 
is sufficient to spoil the whole truss, and would be fatal to any 
stand; so, also, the supernumerary buds maybe taken off as soon 
as they can be fairly ascertained; it is always best, however, to 
