148 JULY. 



ICE PLANT. 



The Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, or Ice 

 Plant, is a curious annual, remarkable only for the 

 transparent glandular substances thickly distributed 

 over its surface, resembling frozen dew-drops: hence 

 the name Ice Plant. This plant is a native of Greece, 

 and grows freely in our garden borders, during the 

 summer, expanding its white blossoms in the months 

 of July and August. It may be raised from seed, 

 sown on a hot-bed any time in spring, and trans- 

 planted to the borders in June : a sandy loam is the 

 best soil for it. 



BALSAMS. 



These, when double, are very beautiful; there 

 are many varieties, but not yet so defined as to have 

 acquired many distinguishing names. The striped 

 flowered Balsams are most in esteem, and in order 

 to produce them, great care must be taken to save 

 the seed from the best flowering plants, on which 

 no plain flower should be suffered to remain. 



COXCOMBS. 



Coxcombs have been recently grown to a very 

 large size by the application of stimulating manures 

 and continued heat. These plants, during the sum- 

 mer, are showy ornaments of the green-house, but 

 will succeed perfectly, as tender annuals, on prepared 

 beds in the open ground. The compost should be 



