ON THE CULTIVATION OF ANNUALS. 
21 
but not sifted. When the roots have grown considerably, shift the plants into a 
size larger pots (twenty-fours), in this size they will flower. Give them a strong 
moist heat, and plentifully supply them from the time they show flower, until they 
come to perfection, with water, in which dung, of either sheep, fowls, or pigeons, 
is dissolved. 
When the flowers are come to perfection, they may be removed out of the strong 
heat, and placed with the other green-house annuals, where their colours and beauty 
will remain throughout the whole summer. 
II. Requiring pnly a moderate heat. — Amongst these, the Lobelia hy- 
po (rat erif or mis , Manulea argentia, Nierembergia linaricefolia, &c., require to be 
potted in sandy peat : the Salvia foliosa, Browallia gratidiflora, Commelina 
cuculluta , &c., thrive in a mixture of peat, loam, and a small portion of well rotted dung. 
Salpiglossis linearis , Loasa volubilis, &c., do best in a light sandy loam, with a little 
well rotted dung, without any mixture of peat. Capsicum should be potted in a good 
rich loam, mixed with about one quarter peat, and one quarter rotten horse dung. 
Balsams attain to greatest perfection, if grown by themselves, under the following 
treatment. When there are plenty of frames, and one can be spared until the end 
of May, the superior show of flowers, that will be obtained, will probably more 
than repay for the extra trouble and sacrifice. 
As soon as the plants are fit to transplant from the seedling pots, make up a bed 
of good horse dung, about three feet thick, and after allowing it to settle for a few 
days, lay about six inches of rotten bark on it. Then transplant the blossoms singly 
into sixty-sized pots, filled with a mixture of half light sandy loam, one quarter peat, 
and one quarter of rotten dung. When potted, plunge the pots up to the rim in the 
bark, and allow a considerable portion of air, by propping up the glasses. Shift them 
into larger pots as often as they require it, each time diminishing the quantity of 
peat, and adding more rich loam, so that at the last potting (which must be just 
after they have shown flower), the compost is nothing more than three quarters of rich 
strong loam, and one quarter of good rotten dung. Give them occasional waterings 
with liquid sheep manure, and keep a constant brisk heat to their roots until the 
time they are removed. 
As the season advances, and the plants grow, give a proportionate increase of air, 
until the beginning of May ; the glasses may then be entirely taken off during the 
day, and nearly put on at night to preserve them from frost. By this mode of treat- 
ment, a very great number of blossoms are produced : it will therefore be necessary 
to thin out the weakest as soon as they are formed. If these rules are attended to, 
and the sort be good, a most splendid show of large rich coloured double blossoms 
may be anticipated. We do not wish to convey an idea that balsams will not grow 
and flower under different treatment. We are satisfied they may be brought to 
flower very well, with the common treatment of green-house annuals, and perhaps 
their stems may exceed in size those grown in the manner we have recommended ; 
but the blossoms will be inferior in colour, and in many cases scarcely double, 
although the sort, under other treatment, might have proved a very excellent one. 
