On the Cultivalion of the Balsam.. 347 



naked, and the only recommendation belonging to them is 

 the great size of their individual flowers, and the monstrous 

 appearance of the plants themselves. The various colors 

 and shades, the odd way in which many are striped or 

 blotched, and the supposed difficulty of producing them in 

 good order, deter many from pretending to grow them in 

 pots; while the judges at horticultural exhibitions awarding 

 prizes to the largest, instead of the best, is a great discour- 

 agement to all but those who persevere in producing mon- 

 sters, because they are the most likely to win. It has been 

 said, that they will rise four feet, and be fifteen feet round or 

 five feet across. This may be ; but the proper way to grow a 

 plant is to have nothing coarse about it, and to keep it in 

 strong condition with good proportion of leaf, stem, and flow- 

 ers, and let it grow its own way. The properties for a good 

 balsam are : — 



Fast, branches down to the surface of the pot, no bare 

 stem, flowers close together, and foliage among and beyond 

 them. The flowers completely circling the stem on all sides. 



Second, the individual flowers large, round, and double. 



Third, the petals thick and smooth on the edges. 



Fourth, the colors dense, and if blotched or striped, the 

 marks well defined, not running into each other. 



Fifth, the plant the same width across as it is high. 



These conditions can only be attained by careful and even 

 growing, without great heat, and by carefully avoiding all 

 sudden changes. 



SEED, AND SOWING, SOIL, ETC. 



It has been said, and we have never been able to contra- 

 dict it from experience, that the older the seed is the better^ 

 and more sure to come double ; we have seen it recommended 

 at not less than nine years old. It is said, that cucumber 

 and melon seed cannot be too old, but these are often used 

 the next season ; and, if put into the warm pocket after dry- 

 ing, it will be good in a year. We have acted upon this with 

 the balsam, and found it equally beneficial. The only good 

 that keeping can do is, to dry by degrees; and it will be 

 found that wearing in the warm pocket quite loose will 



