iS73-] BALSAM-CULTURE. 207 



even be better. As the sun increases in power and the plants in size, 

 air may be given with more freedom with the advancing season. 



If seed be scarce, we prefer sowing single seeds in small pots, or, if 

 plentiful, more seeds to the pot, selecting one plant and pinching 

 out the rest. When they are well up, the pots are placed in a dung- 

 frame or warm pit near the glass; and at once guard against over much 

 moisture and closeness, as the seedlings will get drawn in one day if 

 forgotten or mismanaged. From the beginning the pots would be 

 better plunged in sawdust or tan, thinly, but more especially as the 

 plants advance in size, when more air is given : a steady temperature of 

 from 75° to 80"" at the root is immensely in their favour ; the top heat 

 may fluctuate very widely without any harm. 



If the seeds have been sown in 3-inch pots, the first shift should be 

 into 6-inch, with one large crock over the hole. They should be shifted 

 when the roots have got well hold of the ball of soil, but not matted. 

 The plants will be by this time short sturdy fellows if they have not 

 been coddled. Some do not mind their being a little long in the stem, 

 as the balls can be kept low in the pots at the time of shifting, and the 

 soil brought up to near the first pair of branches; but we do not advise 

 the practice, because it should not be necessary. When shifted, they 

 must be again plunged, but not in much bottom-heat ; the heat of the 

 sun on the plunging material, whether sawdust or tan, will be sufficient 

 in May and onwards. 



At this first shift it will be necessary to speak of soil. We prefer 

 turfy loam of a sandy nature, which has been stacked for a few 

 months with layers of dung put up with it ; the turf will have absorbed 

 the good qualities of the dung. We chop it up rough on the potting 

 bench, and to it we still add a third of horse-droppings, which have 

 been prepared for the mushroom-house, with the bulk of its good qual- 

 ities remaining, but sweetened for use : old mushroom dung is poor 

 stuff. If the soil is not sufficiently sandy — that is, if it be of a close 

 texture — a small portion of gritty river-sand should be added, or sharp 

 pit-sand ; fine silver-sand is not necessary to such a coarse-rooting plant 

 as the Balsam, although it will do perfectly well. We, however, prefer 

 for coarse-rooted plants a coarser sand. The sand in this instance is 

 not necessary simply to keep the soil open mechanically ; sand is neces- 

 sary, we believe, as a feeder or digester, especially in very rich soils. 

 A plant will sometimes be found not to root in pure dung, but add a 

 portion of sand to the dung, and it roots in it directly. With the 

 above soil the plants may be potted rather firmly. 



Increased attention will now be required to air-giving. The plants 

 must have plenty of room, to allow of a free circulation of air about them, 

 and prevent them shading each other — the lights of the pit tilted half 



