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THE GENESEE FAEMEE. 189 



%MtB' Dtfiirtmmt 



ANNUALS, AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



We again resume our descriptions of flowers, and during the season we slial] give draw- 

 ings of such as we may deem worthy. Our pages have thus far been so crowded 

 with answers to numerous inquiries, and other matters that required immediate attention 

 to be of any value the present season, that we have rather neglected the flowers. We 

 shall endeavor to make up for this neglect by especial attention to this department 

 during the season of sunshine and flowers. 



The first work is the selection of the ground and its preparation. A warm and 

 sheltered position should be chosen, if possible, as on the south side of a fence ; but 

 care must be taken to select a place on which water will not stand. The ground 

 should be deeply dug and well pulverized. If not rich, well rotted manure should 

 be dug in. H the ground is clayey, and liable to become hard by the beating of the 

 rain and the drying sun, some light mold from the woods should be added, or some 

 sandy loam, or mold from an old pasture ; one of which can be procured in almost any 

 neighborhood. After the ground is prepared the seed may be sown ; but, a little cau- 

 tion is necessary not to sow seed too thick, as beginners generally make this error. As 

 there is some difBculty in sowing the finer seed evenly, they may be mixed with three or 

 four times the quantity of sand or ashes. They may be then lightly covered with fine 

 mold, sifted over them — the smaller the seed, the lighter the covering. It is better to 

 cover too lightly than too heavily. 



The Balsam — Balsamina Hortensis. — The Balsam, or Lady's Slipper, as it is some- 

 times called, is well known, occupying a place in almost every garden. It is a native 

 of the East Indies, China, and Japan. It has succulent steins, and beautiful showy 

 flowers. Too much of the seed sold in our seed stores is carelessly saved from improp- 

 erly grown plants, and the results to the planter is poor single flowers, and sore disap- 

 pointment. The flowers to be considered good should be large, round, and double. 

 The plant should branch down to the surface of the ground, the flowers completely 

 encircling the stem' on all sides. Last season we obtained seed from Vilmorin, of 

 Paris, and we were not only satisfied but delighted with the result. Mons. V. has a 

 variety which he names the Camellia Balsam, exceedingly double and fine in every 

 respect. It is from one of these our engraving is taken (fig. 1). Much, however, 

 depends on cultivation. 



The Balsam requires a deep, rich, warm soil. Seed may be planted in this latitude 

 about the 15th of May in the open ground; but to secure early flowers, it is better to 

 plant in a hot-bed of moderate heat, or in a /;old frame, merely making a box and 

 covering with glass. Seed in this way may be planted about the 1st of April, and by 

 the 1st of May will be ready to transplant into the open ground. 



The China Aster — Aster Ckinensis. — China Asters were first sent from China to 

 Paris in 1730, and have since been carried to all civilized countries. At their first 

 introduction they were single, and of only two colors, red and white. The Germans 

 have taken great pains to improve this flower, and the better sorts are usually called 

 German Aster. The French are particularly fond of Asters, and grow them in the 

 greatest perfection. The flower from which our plate was taken (fig. 2) was gtown from 

 French seed, and is called Pceony Aster. We were unable to make them ripen their 

 seed, and have since learned that in France the seed can only be ripened under glass. 



The culture of the Aster is similar to that of the Balsam. They generally flower 

 better if transplanted than if allowed to remain where the seed was sown 



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