1871.] A WORD ON BALSAM-GROWING. 327 



incli below tlie surface, each crown having a little sand put round 

 about it before being covered in. We prepared what we thought a 

 good place for them, for we raised the soil of the border several inches, 

 with a mixture of rotten dung, leaf-mould, river sand, and wood-ashes 

 from the rubbish-heap, all of which were well incorporated together with 

 the soil. Since the roots were put in they have given us no further 

 trouble than perhaps an occasional hoeing or weeding to keep them 

 clean, and now they have produced better results than we at first ex- 

 pected. The flowers last long when cut, and such things would be 

 well adapted for transmitting to great distances, as there would be no 

 great danger of their being much injured by the journey. 



Robert Mackellar. 

 Elvaston, June 5th. 



[The specimens received were magnificent. — Ed.] 



A WORD ON BAIiSAM-GROWING. 



This is a plant of which we hear little ; indeed, we do not remem- 

 ber to have seen a word on its culture for some years (if our memory 

 does not betray us). Whether, like the Fuchsia and some more of its soft- 

 wooded allies, it has lost its popularity amongst our great plant-growers, 

 we cannot say. Of late years, Orchids, Ferns, and the hardwooded 

 greenhouse tribe, have thrown most of our old favourites into the shade. 

 A specimen Fuchsia or Balsam is lightly looked at nowadays by the 

 young enthusiast plant-grower. There is doubtless a deal of labour 

 for a short period of bloom — this we consider the greatest objection to 

 specimen Balsam-growing ; but what lover of flowers can wish for a 

 more pleasing sight to feast the eyes upon than a well-arranged green- 

 house, here and there dotted with a well-grown Balsam 1 As before 

 suggested, time is of great importance ; and we are well aware it is no 

 easy matter to spare much time for Balsam-growing in the months of 

 April and May, the very time they are most impatient of attention. 

 Where perhaps a foreman and one or two lads have thirty thousand 

 bedding-plants to raise, and the other ordinary duties of a general 

 forcing and plant establishment to look after, it requires all the 

 energy a young man can command. The head and hands must be busy 

 at all times to meet the exigencies of the case ; and we advise the youth 

 so situated to throw aside his paper-collars, and have nothing to do with 

 riflemen. A great many young men complain of the overtime movement 

 connected with indoor work. This we consider (in most cases) to be a 

 necessary evil ; the persevering youth must blot such notions out of his 

 vocabulary altogether. Compensation must never be looked at — many a 



2 A 



