120 THE FLORIST. 



F. Avalanche and White Perfection are two good whites. 



V. Seymourii, very light pink ; makes a very neat bed. 



V. Charlwoodii, purple, good habit. The old Tweediana has not 

 been beaten for a red bed ; excellent habit and free flowerer. 



Campanula carpatica, blue, quite hardy, dwarf, about 9 inches 

 high ; makes a verj^ good bed ; should be divided early in spring. 

 There is also a white variety of it, which will prove an acquisition ; 

 for, excepting Verbenas, we have very few plants of a good white 

 for small beds. 



Kew. W. Allan. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE BALSAM. 



As this is one of the most beautiful and useful plants we have for 

 rendering the greenhouse gay when its ordinary occupants are out of 

 doors, a few words on its management may not prove uninteresting. 

 I sow twice ; once early in March, and again in the latter end of 

 April, in pots, in a gentle moist heat. As soon as the seed-leaves 

 are perfectly formed, 1 pot off into 3-inch pots, and place them again 

 in gentle heat. When they have filled the pots with roots, I shift 

 them into 6-inch pots, still keeping them in heat, and giving them 

 plenty of air during the daytime, and a little at night, to keep the 

 plants *' stocky." They now remain until the pots become filled 

 with roots, when I shift into 9 -inch pots, in which I flower them. 

 I then remove them to a three-light pit, in which there is no bottom 

 heat, and keep them close for a few days while they are making 

 fresh roots. Afterwards, I give plenty of air during the early part 

 of the day, and shut up soon in the afternoon, with a sprinkle over- 

 head to keep them clean and free from red spider. I never allow 

 them to receive the least check during their growth. 



The soil I use is good turfy loam and well-decomposed cow-dung 

 in rather a rough state. This suits them well. I supply water 

 plentifully ; and when the plants become large, and are coming into 

 flower, I give them diluted manure-water. By thinning the flower- 

 buds, I never fail to obtain fine blossoms ; and under the above 

 treatment I have always well-branched handsome plants. 



The plants from the second sowing succeed very well without 

 bottom-heat. As soon as they are removed from the seed-pots into 

 3-inch pots, I place them in a cold frame, keeping it close for a few 

 days, and afterwards give them a good supply of air in the early 

 part of the day, closing soon in the afternoon with a moist atmo- 

 sphere, and repotting when they require it, as recommended above. 

 As the plants become too tall for the frame, I raise it upon bricks, 

 ultimately removing them to the conservatory when they come into 

 flower. 



The only fault of Balsams is the litter they make during their 



flowering season, on account of the blooms falHng off; but fine plants, 



M'ith large double flowers, and a good variety of colours, amply 



repay the little extra trouble that is required to keep them in order. 



March 8th, 1850. T. R. 



