sorts, to prevent accidental impregnation. As the capsules ripen they should be cut off singly, and kept in a dry situation until the time of sowing, which is principally performed in the month of February. "Maddock sows this seed in boxes, and covers it as light as possible; and sets the boxes in a hot-bed, preserving a moderate and equal degree of warmth both day and night, admitting fresh air occasionally. The advantage of this mode is, that it forces every live grain into vegetation in about three weeks, if the warmth of the bed be properly kept up; whereas, by the more usual mode of exposure to the open air, the greater part does not vegetate till the second year; year; and the weaker seeds, which are probably the most valuable, seldom vegetate at all.

"The earth and seed must always be kept moderately moist, but never very wet: the best method of watering it, is by means of a hard clothes-brush, dipped into soft water, which has had its chill taken off by standing in the sun; the hair side being quickly turned upwards, and the hand rubbed briskly over it, will cause the water to fly off, in an opposite direction, in particles almost as fine as dew. If the surface of the earth in the boxes is inclining to become mossy or mouldy, it must be stirred all over very carefully with a pin, about as deep as the thickness of a shilling. When

the young plants make their appearance, it then becomes necessary to give them very gradually more air, in order to harden, and render them fit for an entire exposure to it, which they will be able to bear in a fortnight or three weeks, at which time the box should be taken out of the frame, and placed in rather a warm situation, though not too much exposed to the sun, till towards the end of April, when it may again be removed to a cooler aspect, where it can only receive the sun till nine o'clock in the morning; and in May, if the weather is hot, it should be placed in the most cool and airy part of the garden, not neglecting at any time to keep the earth moderately moist, but at the same time preserving it from violent rains whenever they occur. As soon as any of the plants appear with six leaves, such should be taken out from the rest, and transplanted into other boxes, filled with the compost, about two inches distant from each other; and when they are again grown, so as nearly to touch each other, they must be a second time transplanted into larger boxes, or small pots, where they should remain till they blow, which will generally happen the following spring; but their full merit will not be seen until the second year, when the finer kinds may be marked for the house, and the inferior varieties for the open borders."

Some cultivators of these flowers sow the seed in pots, about six inches over the top, and six deep, filled half full with coal ashes or cinders, for the sake of drainage; the seed being covered as thin as possible with compost, and the pots covered with a hand-glass, and placed in a situation where it receives only the morning sun. These glasses are not to be taken off, but the water sprinkled over them will afford sufficient moisture to the earth. The front of a green-house, or a cool frame, is recommended for these pots.

As the spring is the season we desire to have our Auriculas in flower, all the autumnal buds should be carefully taken off to strengthen the plants for the early flowering; and as the Auricula blossoms at the same season of the year that the Hyacinth and Jonquil flower, a most desirable assemblage for the house may be formed, by a judicious mixture of these plants being placed on a window table, with a sunk centre to receive the depth of the pots, which should for this purpose be of a square shape, so as to fit close, as well as to exactly fill the space in the table. These little table gardens are a great ornament to the saloon in the spring, and often beguile the time of the invalid in the most happy manner; for, in whatever situation we meet with fine flowers, they give a calm cheerfulness conducive to health, and the

care they require is only asked of our leisure; whilst that of birds and animals which are confined to the house must be regularly attended to at their call, or they become offensive and annoying.

Natural Order, Orchidea. A Genus of the Gynandria Monandria Class.

Nor will her prudence, when intent to form
One perfect whole, on feeble aid depend,

And give exotic wonders to our gaze;

She knows, and therefore fears the faithless train :
Sagely she calls on those of hardy class

Indigenous, who, patient of the change
From heat to cold which Albion hourly feels,

Are braced with strength to brave it. These alone
She plants and prunes, nor grieves if nicer eyes
Pronounce them vulgar.

MASON.

THAT this family of plants, so singular in their construction, and so beautiful in their appearance, should be excluded from the parterre of Flora in every part of the globe, evinces either a general want of taste in floriculture, or a strong predilection for ancient prejudices and absurd opinions.

Even the poets have failed to celebrate this flower that so richly enamels our vernal pastures with its spiral blossoms, and so sweetly contrasts its purple spikes with the yellow furze of our chalky hills. It is slightly mentioned by Mrs. Charlotte Smith, who spent her early days at Berton Park,