120 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



The best season to pot plants on this sj'stem is in 

 the early spring-, with all the growing months and 

 the whole of the ripening season ahead of the culti- 

 vator. The fostering genial influences already 

 referred to as useful after potting, may all be aug- 

 mented on the one-shift principle. Not an hour 

 should be lost in fostering, forcing if need be, the 

 actiou of the roots. If they stand still long, the 

 plants may be said to be already lost. But, start- 

 ing promptly, they grow with astonishing vigour ; 

 and more growth is often, made in. one year on the 

 one-shift system than in six under progressive 

 potting. It takes a good deal of room and involves 

 considerable risk, but these drawbacks are amply 

 compensated for by success. 



Modifications of the system have also affected all 

 other methods of potting, inasmuch as the shifts are 

 now much larger and the composts rougher than 

 they used to be. 



The one-shift system also answers admirably for 

 most soft- wooded plants, and such showy annuals as 

 Cockscombs, Balsams, &c. For these the richest soils 

 may be used, a full half being manure, and these 

 yet further enriched with crushed bones, malt-dust, 

 guano, and other stimulants. Exposed to full sun- 

 light and stimulated by a bottom heat of 80^ or 9 

 one may almost see such plants grow, and Balsams 

 may be gro^Ti into dwarf trees, and Cockscombs as 

 large as cockerels, under such forcing conditions. 



Nevertheless the one-shift system has gone out 

 of fashion, and progressive jjotting, modified and 

 improved by its influence, as set forth in these pages, 

 is now the order of the day in almost all horticul- 

 tural circles. 



FLOEISTS' FLOWBES 



By Richard Dean. 



Balsams. — Time was when the Balsam was a 

 much more popular flower than it is in the present 

 day, for then it was regarded as a florist's flower ; 

 was greatly improved by careful selection ; and the 

 flowers gradually became much more double, and 

 decidedly more symmetrical in shape ; it was also 

 largely seen at horticultural shows. Then for a 

 time, owing probably to the bedding-out system 

 having gained such an ascendency over the minds 

 of gardeners, the Balsam and other kindred subjects 

 fell into neglect. There are, however, indications 

 that this handsome flower is again rising in pojiular 

 favour : and the systems of culture now adopted are~ 

 much simpler than they were years ago. Then, 

 " disbudding, stopping, and other interferences with 

 the natural growth of the plant were resorted to, 

 to produce fine specimens and double flowers. But 



there is only one mode of cultivation worthy of 

 attention, and that is the natural way ; and it can 

 be made to produce fine and handsome specimens. 

 The old rules of pinching back the leader to pro- 

 mote the growth of side shoots, and removing the 

 flower-buds in order to increase the size of the plants, 

 were vicious observances, because the natural growth 

 is more elegant and effective, and the finest flowers 

 are produced on the. main stem, and, therefore, are 

 completely sacrificed by disbudding." 



Balsams can be easily raised from seed, and it is 

 necessary, in order that the flowers shall be satis- 

 factory to the cultivator, that it be of a good strain. 

 It is not necessary to sow the seed in heat, for 

 it can be raised in an ordinary green-house by 

 sowing the seeds thinly in pots or pans of light 

 soil, or on an open bed that gardeners sometimes 

 find it convenient to make up in a green-house ; 

 and germination is hastened by placing a piece of 

 glass over the surface of the pots. Indeed, the seed 

 would grow in an ordinary frame if sown in March 

 or early in April. As soon as the seedlings are 

 large enough to transplant, they should be potted 

 singly into small pots, and if possible placed in a 

 little warmth to quicken their growth. The Balsam 

 is a quick-growing succulent plant, and at all stages 

 of its grow th rich soil should be employed. Some 

 good yellow loam, plenty of leaf-mould, rotten ma- 

 nure, and silver sand, well mixed together, make 

 an excellent compost. What the cultivator should 

 aim to do is to encourage a dwarf, stout, and vigo- 

 rous habit of growth ; and it is a great mistake to 

 leave the plants too long in the seed-bed, where they 

 become spindly and weak. As soon as the pots are 

 prett}' well filled with roots, another shift should be 

 given ; and when shifted, the plants should be placed 

 as deep in the pots as possible. After a shift, they 

 should be kept close for two or three days, and then, 

 fully exposed to light and air. From all points 

 where the stem comes into contact with the soil fresh 

 roots are thrown out, and these assist to increase the 

 development of the plant ; therefore the advantage 

 of placing the plants as deep as possible in the soil 

 is made clearlj" apparent. 



The importance of frequent shiftings in the early 

 stages of growth cannot be over-estimated. It is in 

 this way that the foundations of fine specimens are 

 laid. Any check through being pot-bound, or be- 

 coming too dry at the roots, has an injurious effect 

 on the plants, and should be carefully guarded 

 against. A free growth must be encouraged in 

 every possible way. Pots " from eight to ten inches 

 in diameter will be large enough for the final shift, 

 and in these we have seen specimens grown of won- 

 derful size, and carrying remarkable heads of flower. 

 It is when the roots touch the sides of the pots, and 



