peated until they are in Sin. or 10in. pots. 
154 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Balm—continued. 
divisions, in spring. A pretty variegated form is some- 
times met with, having the additional advantage of being 
equal to the normal species for medicinal purposes. 
BALM OF GILEAD. See Cedronella triphylla. 
BALSAM (Impatiens Balsamina). <A well-known 
ornamental and tender annual, native of India. It is 
one of the showiest of summer and autumn flowers, and 
well deserves a place in every garden. Although of com- 
paratively easy cultivation, good blooms and well-grown 
plants are far toorarely seen. A good Balsam bloom should 
be quite as double as a perfect Camellia, and to show to the 
greatest advantage should appear like one in the arrange- 
ment of the petals. To secure this, seeds should only be 
saved from the finest and most perfect flowers, although 
the quantity must, of necessity, be small. They should be 
sown, about the third week in March, in properly prepared 
pans of rich sandy soil, and placed in a gentle bottom heat 
of about 65deg. As soon as the first rough leaf appears, 
the plants should be potted off into 3in. pots, care being 
taken to let the cotyledon, or seed leaves, be close to the 
i 
Fig. 201. CAMELLIA-FLOWERED BALSAM. 
soil. When the roots touch the sides of the pots, the plants 
should be moved into larger ones, and this should be re- 
Some growers 
place one or two seeds in small pots, so as to avoid the 
first shift, and a good plan it is. During the time the 
plants are under glass, they should be kept as near the 
light as possible, and be frequently turned around, so that 
they do not draw to one side; and careful training must 
be given to those that are required in fine form. Dis- 
budding is also necessary to such as are wanted at their 
best, removing all bloom from the main stem and base of 
branches until the plants are of sufficient size, and then 
the buds at the tops will bloom almost simultaneously. 
The buds that will be formed afterwards will cause a con- 
tinuance of blossom for a long time, in fact, for some 
months, if the plants are liberally supplied with liquid 
manure. If it is desired for them to flower out of doors. 
the plants should be transferred, about May, to a frame 
where the heat is not above 50deg., and be kept in a stead: 
growing state, air being admitted on all suitable occasions, 
cold winds and heavy rains avoided, and water supplied 
when needed; never allow them to get dry. They require 
training and disbudding the same as those grown in the 
ig 
Balsam—continued. š 
greenhouse. About June, the plants should be fully ex- 
posed during the day; and, when danger of frost is over, 
the lights may be kept off altogether. These should bloom 
at the end of July. In all cases, plenty of drainage must be 
allowed, as the amount of water required is very great. 
Insects must be sharply looked after, as well as slugs 
and snails. There are several sections, such as Camellia- 
flowered (see Fig 201), Rose-flowered, &c., each containing 
variously striped, spotted, and entire coloured blooms, and 
it is best to pay an extra figure to secure a good strain. 
BALSAM APPLE. See Momordica Balsaminea. 
BALSAMINA. See Impatiens. 
es 
Fic. 202. BAMBUSA ARUNDINACEA. 
BALSAMINEZS. A tribe of yaaa ge to the 
iacee. Sepals and petals all coloured, consisting 
of ake ano a eo outer ones small, flat, and oblique ; 
the next large, hood-shaped, ending below in a conical spur ; 
the fourth opposite to it, small, very broad, concave; the 
two innermost very oblique, and more or less divided into 
two unequal lobes.” The best known genus is Impatiens. 
BALSAMODENDRON (from balsamon —an old 
Greek word used by Theophrastus—balm or balsam, and 
dendron, a tree). ORD. Burseracee. Greenhouse or stove 
balsamiferous trees. Flowers small, green, axillary, often 
unisexualy calyx four-toothed, permanent; petals four, 
linear-oblong, induplicately valvate in mstivation; sta- 
mens eight, inserted under the annular disk, having 
elevated warts between them. Berry, or drupe, ovate, 
