174 FLORA HISTORICA. 



BALSA]\I. Impatlens. 



Natural Order Corydales. Geranice, Juss. A Genus 

 of the Pcntandria Monogynia Class. 



Balsam, with its shaft of amber. 



This delicate and beautiful plant is a native of the 

 East Indies, China, Cochin China, and Japan, and 

 it may be ranked amongst the most elegant annual 

 fiowers which the warmer climates have afforded us ; 

 yet it is greatly neglected by the English florists of 

 the present day, who have, in great measure, laid it 

 aside for plants that are more precarious in rear- 

 ing, and less beautiful when raised. 



The love of novelty even in plants often leads us 

 from old estabhshed favourites to less interesting 

 objects ; and where Fashion points tlie way, we as 

 naturally follow, as if this supreme directress were 

 incapable of error. We shall therefore entreat the 

 gay nymph to renew her smiles on this eastern plant, 

 whose wax-like flowers contributed as essentially to 

 embellish the British parterres of the last age as 

 they do those of the continent at presen^ The 

 Balsam has the peculiar advantage of retaining all 

 its splendour and freshness during the drought of 



