2 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
The first and most particular point being—to sow the seed at 
the earliest period considered proper for such operations, in 
order to afford the plant the better opportunity of per¬ 
fecting its seeds in the autumn. The greatest objection to be 
urged against it is, that unless the plant is got into a blooming 
state at a very early part of the summer, the seed is not properly 
matured before the return of short days, and the consequent 
absence of solar influence. To ensure this, the seed should be 
sown by the middle of February ; or, we are inclined to believe, 
the autumn would be preferable, but for the difficulty that 
would most likely arise in keeping the plants through the 
winter; a gentle hotbed is all that is required to germinate the 
seeds, and they may either be sown in pots or on the surface of 
the bed. As soon as the plants are large enough to handle 
without injury they should be potted, using a light rich earth, 
and may be continued in the same frame until the weather is 
sufficiently moderate to warrant their removal, when a cold 
frame, or the front shelves of a greenhouse, is the most proper 
place for them, repotting them as often as required, and, like 
the Balsam, they delight in rich soil. In hot weather the plants 
require an abundant supply of fresh air and water; the flowers 
are produced in June, and continue in succession till the end of 
September ; they are borne on a spike which arises from the point 
of the stem of the plant, and from the base of the first spike 
laterals are produced—these flower, and bear other lateral 
spikes which again flower, and thus the plant often presents a 
surface of from two to three feet in height, and as much in circum¬ 
ference, with blooms at all sides. Although we recommend it 
to be grown under glass, because the flowering is more abundant, 
and the plant attains a larger size, it will also succeed if planted 
in the open border; here it must be allowed a sheltered 
situation and kept neatly fastened to sticks, as, from the large 
size of the leaves, it would be likely to receive injury from high 
winds. The flowers produced in the open air are more deeply 
coloured than when under the protection of glass, but are not so 
numerous ; altogether, it is a most desirable acquisition, and a 
fit companion to the Balsam as a summer ornament of our 
greenhouses, and we doubt not will be extensively grown as such. 
