BALSAM. 191 



liar advantage of retaining all its splendour and 

 freshness during the drought of the hottest months, 

 when many other plants are withered before they 

 have flowered, which renders it a valuable orna- 

 ment for the summer months. 



When properly treated these succulent plants 

 reach the size of a moderate flowering shrub. 

 Martyn says, '* I have seen the stem seven 

 inches in circuit, and all the parts large in pro- 

 portion, branched from top to bottom, loaded 

 with its party-coloured flowers, and thus forming 

 a most beautiful bush." Mr. Fairweather speaks 

 of them four feet in height and fifteen feet in cir- 

 cumference, with strong thick stems, furnished 

 with side branches from bottom to top, and these 

 covered with large double flowers. (Hort, Tram, 

 3, 406.) 



We have frequently observed the Balsam in 

 the gardens of Paris having more the appearance 

 of a brilliant-flowering shrub than an annual 

 plant, ornamenting the quarters of the royal gar- 

 dens of the Thuilleries and the Luxemburg by 

 its petals of scarlef, crimson, brick red, purple 

 white, variegated, parti -coloured or delicate blush ; 

 this last variety frequently being as double and 

 nearly as large as a moderate Rose, and the 

 whole plant covered with flowers, resembling by 



