348 On the CuUivaiion of the Balsam. 



hasten the ripening or rather the drying of the balsam. Sow 

 the seeds in the beginning of March, and again in the begin- 

 ning of April, in wide-mouthed pots, and in a slight hot-bed, 

 that is to say, the heat not allowed above C0°. When it 

 does exceed this, open it at the back to let some of the heat 

 out, so that it may not get above 60<^. In a very short time 

 these seeds will be up, and then air must be freely given, 

 though the heat may not be too great, but it ought not to 

 be allowed to decline below 45°. If they become drawn in 

 the seedling state, it is very difficult to get them right again. 

 As soon as they get a second pair of leaves, they should be 

 carefully transplanted. And here we may say something 

 about the soil to be used from the first to the last. As the 

 best that can be had, we should recommend rotted turves, 

 which have been cut from a loamy rich pasture, and with all 

 the grass fibres and roots decayed in it. This need only be 

 rubbed through a potato sieve ; not that we require the earth 

 small, but that it enables us to see any of the troublesome 

 grubs, wire-worms, «fcc., with which the turf maybe infested, 

 and which ought to be caught and killed by hand ; for all 

 washes, salts, lime, &c., that might annoy them would alter 

 the character of the soil. By rubbing it through a very 

 coarse sieve, such as the smallest potatoes are sifted through, 

 any large lumps of turf not completely rotted, and also great 

 stones, will be easily taken out and thrown away. If this 

 cannot be got, and clean loam is obliged to be used, half of 

 this added to one fourth turfy peat and leaf-mould mixed, 

 and one fourth decomposed cowdung, will be the next best 

 soil to use ; this should by rights lay together some time, and 

 be well mixed together before using ; still, rotted leaves are 

 to be preferred, and no florist should be without a compost, 

 which is more valuable than any other. 



POTTING. 



When the seedlings get their second pair of leaves, take 

 pots of the size called forty-eights, that is to say, forty-eight 

 pots to the cast ; and having put crocks one third of the way 

 up, fill the pots with the compost ; raise the seedlings in the 

 pots with a piece of flat wood like the blade of a knife, with 



