lUE FLORAL WOMLI) AND GAUDEN GUIDE. 99 



BALSAMS FOR EXHIBITION. 



lil^ T. WILLIAMS, CUTSTAL PALACE, SYDENHAM, S.E. 



SALSAMS are invariably more or less pleutiful at the pro- 

 vincial exhibitions held towards the end of the summer 

 and in the early part of the autumn, but it is not often 

 that the}' are presented in true exhibition style. Instead 

 of the large bushes densely furnished with deep green 

 leafage and flowers of the finest quality, which we have a right to 

 expect at these gatherings, plants remarkable for leggiuess and 

 poverty of appearance are the rule rather than the exception. This 

 is not as it should be, and a few practical remarks at the present 

 moment will undoubtedly prove of considerable service to many 

 readers of tbese pages. Possibly a few only may be desirous of 

 exhibiting their productions, but, as well-grown balsams are of im- 

 mense value for the decoration of the conservatory, and exhibition 

 specimens especially so, the hints will be useful to all who grow 

 these flowers, but have not yet succeeded so well as they could wish. 

 One of the chief causes of failure is sowing the seed too early, 

 A hot-bed is made up for propagating purposes in February, or eavlj 

 in March, the seed is sown, and, owing to the deficiency of light, the 

 want of air, and the inevitable crowding, the plants are drawn up so 

 tall and weakly, tliat the most skilful cultivator would lail in making 

 specimens of them. Another cause is starving the plants during the 

 earlier stages of growth ; they are kept in small pots long after 

 they have become pot-bound, with the consequent results that the 

 foliage is injured by the attacks of red-spider or thrip, and the 

 plants forced prematurely into bloom. By shifting and frequent 

 syringing they partially recover, but they do not present that healthy 

 appearance common to those which have been placed under favour- 

 alole conditions from the first. Insufiicient ventilation, and placing 

 the plants too far from the glass, favour the production of long- 

 jointed wood, of which we see so much at all the exhibitions ; and 

 by commencing too early it is indeed most difiicult to afi'ord the 

 plants a sufficiency of light and air. 



It would not be difficult to give the whole code of balsam culture 

 in a very few words, but as this is written more especially for those 

 who have not had much practical experience, it will be necessary to 

 explain the details at some length. The first step to take is to pro- 

 cure seed saved from a really first-class strain. Cheap seed is 

 worthless, for the plants raised from it will produce semi-double 

 flowers, pale and washy in colour, and be a constant source of 

 annoyance. The GameUia-floivered and the Bose-Jiou-ered are the 

 two best types of balsams, and both are offered in collections com- 

 prising nine distinct colours, costing half-a-crown each collection. 

 One collection will be quite sufficient for an amateur, and the first- 

 mentioned type is to be preferred. To keep the colours separate, 

 so as to insure a fair proportion of each, if more plants are raised 

 than required, sow in separate pots. Those five inches in diameter 



April, 



