On the Cultivation of the Balsam. 407 



drawn. As soon as the roots have filled the pots, let them 

 be moved into others of a larger size, and when they begin 

 to flower, select the best plants, and pot them once again ;* 

 they may then be set in the green-house, after the green- 

 house plants have been taken out. 



As soon as the pots are again filled with roots, they should 

 be placed in pans, and, in dry weather, abundance of water 

 should be given them, but in moist cloudy weather, very 

 little will be necessary, if water be kept in the pans ; for 

 too much moisture upon the plants, unless the air be clear, 

 is apt to rot them. 



The best compost for Balsams is chiefly composed of 

 good rich loam, such as is generally used for growing Me- 

 lons ; if it has not been formerly mixed with leaf mould or 

 dung, I mix it afresh, using one half of loam, one quarter 

 of leaf mould, and one quarter of very rotten dung ; if the 

 loam is of a heavy nature, it requires rather more leaf mould, 

 or a little sand to be added to the mass, to keep it from 

 binding. 



A good Balsam ought to have a strong thick stem, fur- 

 nished with branches from bottom to top. I always sepa- 

 rate those with red or dark coloured stems from the rest, and 

 when the weather becomes warm, plant them out in the 

 borders of the pleasure ground, or flower garden ; I leave 

 none in pots but those with clear transparent stems. 



The plants from which seed should be saved, are those 

 which have good double flowers, with clear bright colours, 



* My experience justifies me in stating, that frequent potting the plants du- 

 ring their growth, tends particularly to improve their beauty and vigour, con- 

 sequently, it is advisable to shift them oftener, if possible, than is here directed. 



