THE FLOBAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 113 



Cockscombs. — As there is little difference between tbe treatment 

 of the balsam and cockscomb, the instructions previously given 

 will be quite applicable in this case. It is not necessary, however, 

 to grow the cockscomb in such large pots as the balsam. 



Ice Plant. — Although there is nothing in the floral character of 

 this interesting little plant to recommend it in the flower garden, 

 still there is something about the peculiar crystalline, or rather 

 glacial appearance which it exhibits, to make it attractive. The 

 seeds should be sown in a pot, and very slightly covered with finely- 

 sifted vegetable mould ; and when the plants have made three or four 

 leaves, they ought then to be potted oft" into what are called small 

 sixty pots, and kept in the frame till the roots have almost filled the 

 pots. If it is intended to have large spreading plants, they may be 

 re-potted into pots two sizes larger, and gradually hardened off till 

 they are planted out in June. The best situation for displaying 

 this beautiful little plant is on rockwork, and planted in rather poor 

 soil. 



Ipomceas. — These are very ornamental and elegant annuals, pro- 

 ducing, throughout a great part of the summer and autumn, a 

 profusion of the most elegant flowers. When trained to a trellis or 

 on sticks, they form an admirable screen. Of these the I. coccinea 

 and Burrldgii are the finest. They require to be sown in pots three 

 inches and a half -wide at the top, and filled with light sandy loam, 

 peat, and leaf-mould, to which should be added a liberal supply of 

 Bilver sand, in sufficient quantity so as to render the whole quite 

 porous, and to allow tbe water to percolate freely. When the plants 

 have fully developed their seed-leaves, they should be carefully raised 

 with a stick from the seed-pot and transplanted into the same sized 

 pots, filled with similar soil as the others. In a short time they will 

 begin to throw up a long twining shoot, which should be supported 

 by placing a stick in each pot, to which the plants may entwine. 

 After they have filled the pots with roots, they may then be planted 

 out in the situations they are intended to occupy. 



Sensitive Plant. — This is, strictly speaking, a tender plant, and 

 will not endure exposure even during our warm summer in an open 

 border ; it will therefore require to be kept constantly in the frame. 

 It is, perhaps, one of the most interesting plants known, from 

 possessing the singular property of folding up its leaves on receiving 

 the slightest touch ; and, if roughly handled, the whole plant will 

 become as if paralysed. The leaf-stalk appears as if attached to the 

 plant by a joint, and when touched it falls down, and presents all 

 the appearance as if endowed with something more than vegetable 

 life. The seed should be sown in five-inch pots, containing a soil 

 composed of light sandy loam, vegetable mould, peat, and a good 

 proportion of silver sand. Let them be watered sparingly, at least 

 only sufficiently to enable the seeds to germinate. When they have 

 made two or three leaves, let them be transplanted into small pots 

 containing a similar soil, but the pots must be well drained ; when 

 they have filled these pots, let them be removed into those which 

 are six inches wide at the top, and this will be their last shift. 

 To render the plants bushy, they should from time to time have 

 April. 8 



