218 THE CULTURE OF FLOWERS FROM SEEDS 



The Auricula is a slow-growing plant, and although there will 

 probably be some flowers from seedlings in the following year, their 

 value must not be judged until the second season. To the trained 

 eye of the florist the Show Auriculas take precedence over the Alpine 

 section. But for general usefulness the Alpines hold the first place. 

 They may be fearlessly put into the open border, and especially the 

 north border, where, with scarcely any care at all, they will endure 

 the winter, and freely show their lovely flowers in spring. 



BALSAM 



Impatiens Balsamina. Half-hardy annual 



BALSAMS were but rarely well grown until within the past few years, 

 for the popular works on floriculture prescribed a false system, com- 

 prising disbudding, stopping, and other interferences with the natural 

 growth of the plant. But an observant writer, who has grown these 

 flowers in various ways, made the declaration that there was only one 

 way worth attention, that being the natural way, and now the rule 

 prevails, and we are quite accustomed to see in gardens abundance 

 of beautiful Balsams. The old rule of pinching back the leader to 

 promote the growth of side shoots, and removing the flower buds to 

 increase the size of the plants, was altogether vicious, because the 

 natural growth is more elegant and effective, and the finest flowers 

 are produced on the main stem, and these are completely sacrificed 

 by disbudding. It is desirable to make two or three sowings of 

 Balsam, say, from the middle of March to the middle of May, the 

 earlier sowings to be put on a sweet hot-bed, although March sowings 

 will soon germinate in a frame, and the May sowing may be made in 

 the open ground on a prepared bed. The soil at every stage should 

 be rich and light, but not rank in any degree. The plants should be 

 pricked out from the seed-pans when they show their first rough 

 leaves, and soon after should be shifted to encourage a stout dwarf 

 habit. A sunny position should be chosen for the bed, in which 

 they may be planted out about the first week of June, or earlier if 

 the weather is particularly favourable. Heat, moisture, and a strong 

 light favour a fine bloom, and, therefore, water must be given when- 

 ever dry weather prevails for any length of time. If kept sturdy 

 while under glass, they will need no support of any kind, and although 

 they are peculiarly fleshy in texture, it is most unusual for even a 



