146 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



where shown that a collection of them can likewise be 

 grown as a successional crop with advantage. But 

 where it is made a special article, it is no doubt a 

 good plan to devote a whole house to it, which, 

 whether for show or seed- saving purposes, should be 

 of a good construction as regards light, room, and 

 air. 



Those who may grow Balsams, either for show pur- 

 poses or for seed, will find that the above plan will be 

 a good one, as well as cheap, to carry out. As it is an 

 annual which can be grown to the greatest perfection 

 from seed sown in March till September, no further 

 security from the weather is required than a careful 

 protection against winds, and the slightly cold nights, 

 &c. The seed must first be sown in seed-pans, and 

 set in a brisk heat till it is well up, and then it may 

 be removed to a cold frame, or to the house, till the 

 seedlings have made from four to six leaves, when 

 they may be at once potted off singly into three-inch 

 pots and kept cool and well watered. 



As soon as these are filled with roots, shift them at 

 once into eight- or nine-inch pots, and then keep them 

 close till they have made a full foot of growth, keeping 

 them well watered. Then admit all the air possible, 

 to prevent them from drawing up too much, constantly 

 supplying them with an abundance of water, and once 

 a week give them a watering with some weak liquid 

 manure. It is immaterial what this is, but never give 

 it too strong. 



Warrantable double and single seed may be easily 

 saved from the same plant ; that is, the seed that will 

 produce none but good double-flowering plants in the 

 next generation may be saved from the main spike of 



