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TRIPTILION SPINOSUM. 
TRIPTILION SPINOSUM. 
This charming annual plant is well deserving the attention of 
all who admire an elegant, airy outline, combined with an abundant 
floral development. It is a natvie of Chili, from whence it was 
brought about ten years since, a peculiarity in its character, which 
will be presently explained, keeping it still scarce. The known 
temperate mildness of the climate whence it was obtained led 
us at the beginning to class it with those sufficiently robust to 
bear the variations of our own seasons: and subsequent experience 
has proved this assumption to be pretty nearly correct. It is 
half-hardy, or, in less technical words, is capable of bearing 
exposure through the summer, but must be assisted with artificial 
heat in spring, to rear and forward it in the earlier stages of 
its progress; and, except in the case of prolonged fine weather 
in autumn, requires the same protection at that period, to 
enable it to ripen its seeds. Our summers in general are too 
short for it to attain its utmost perfection ; and hence the disap¬ 
pointment tending to its present scarcity, which has arisen where 
it has been trusted altogether in the open air. 
The mode in which it may be made to yield the greatest satis¬ 
faction is, by growing it in pots instead of placing it in the ground. 
Under such circumstances the plant is transferable at any time 
from one position to another, as occasion may require, and then 
no disappointment need be apprehended; for, seeing it is only a 
continuance of propitious weather that is required, it is indeed 
to be regretted that so fine a subject should be thrown out of 
cultivation for the want of merely a little protection. 
The course of treatment I would recommend is this,—early in 
March the seed should be sown in pans of light, rich earth, on a 
gentle hot-bed, such as is usual with plants of the kind. Let 
them grow about a couple of inches in height, and then pot them 
separately in small pots, and continue them in the frame till they 
require repotting, when the removal should be into others large 
enough for their support through the summer, say ten or twelve 
inch pots. These should be filled with rather strong, but at the 
same time, porous soil. Replace the plants in the frame till they 
are re-established, and in the beginning of June they may be 
transferred to the borders if required there, or to the greenhouse 
