THE 



VOL. v.] 



AUGUST, 1882. 



[No. 8. 



THE BALSAM. 



The beautiful colored plate which 

 adonis this August number will illus- 

 trate much better than any description 

 the improvement that has been made 

 in the form and coloring of this beau- 

 tiful flower. 



It is a tender annual ; hence in our 

 climate it is desirable to get the plants 

 well started in the house or in a frame, 

 so that they can be planted in the open 

 border when all danger from late 

 frosts is over, and come into bloom 

 early enough to enable us to enjoy 

 their flowers before the autumn frosts 

 come and ruin their beauty. As soon 

 as the plants are up and nicely started, 

 they should be transplanted either into 

 small pots or into the frame, and as soon 

 as the roots fill the pots be shifted into 

 larger pots, or, if set out in the frame, 

 moved as often as they begin to become 

 crowded. The soil should be made 

 light and rich, kept free from weeds, 

 and frequently stirred, to secure a 

 strong, healthy growth and abundant 

 bloom. They may be flowered in pots 

 if desired, and grown in this way they 

 make handsome window plants or or- 

 naments for the verandah. Our hot 



summer weather is much better suited 

 to the cultivation of Uiis popular flower 

 than the cool, moist climate of Eng- 

 land, so that with suitable soil and 

 little care we can grow them in the 

 greatest perfection. 



The plants can be pruned to any de- 

 sired form, either to a single, straight 

 stalk, or with three or four branches. 

 Sometimes they incline to throw out 

 so many branches that if all are al- 

 lowed to grow the flowers would be 

 hidden. It is better to cut away the 

 suj)erfluous branches as they start into 

 growth, and leave only enough to dis- 

 play the flowei*s to the best advantage. 

 Thus grown, the plant, when in full 

 bloom, is in itself a beautiful bouquet. 

 The cut blooms show to best advantage 

 when arranged in a saucer of water, or 

 of moistened sand, and in this way 

 make an attractive table ornament. 

 Florists find these double flowei-s, and 

 especially the double white, very use- 

 ful in the formation of crosses, wreaths 

 and other floral designs. The^e double 

 flowers have attained to such perfection 

 of form that seedsmen have named 

 them rose-flowered and camellia-flow- 



