BALSAM OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 33 



liquid rushes out with a gurgling noise and in such quantity as 

 to fill a pint vessel in one minute. Besides these veins, the 

 whole wood of the tree is impregnated with the Balsam, but 

 none is found in the bark. It is stated that a good tree will 

 yield 12 lbs. in about three hours ; after a few hours the flow 

 almost ceases. The Balsam on issuing from the tree has a 

 powerful fragrance ; but on passing the houses where it is stored 

 in Para an odour by no means pleasant is experienced. That 

 which is collected near Para is said to be produced by a species 

 called Copaifera muUijuga, described, however, as a very doubt- 

 ful member of the genus. Large quantities come from the 

 upper region of the Amazon. It is floated down in hollow trees 

 hke canoes, some containing as much as 2500 gallons, and 

 shipped to Europe and North America. It is chiefly used in 

 medicine and perfumery. 



Balsam, Garden. — This well-known garden plant is an 

 annual of the Balsam family (Geraniacese), and is called 

 Impatiens halsamina. It is a native of India, and is recorded 

 as having been introduced into this country before 1596. Many 

 fine double varieties have been raised from seed. /. noli-me-tan- 

 gere, called Touch-me-not, is an annual, native of this country, 

 plentiful on many parts of the banks of the Thames. It takes 

 its name Touch-me-not from the circumstance of the capsule 

 when ripe, on being touched, bursting elastically, and throwing 

 the seeds to some distance. Of late years a number of species 

 of Balsams have been introduced from Ceylon and India, and 

 have very showy flowers. They are chiefly cultivated in botanic 

 gardens. 



Balsams of Peru and Tolu. — The descriptions of the trees 

 yielding these Balsams are so conflicting that it has been difii- 

 cult to determine whether they were produced by two or more 

 species of the genus Myrospermum of the Bean family (Legumi- 

 nosae). They are large trees with pinnate leaves, the pinnae of 

 which vary in size from 2 to 4 or 5 inches in length ; they are 

 oblong, ovate-obtuse, or acuminate, smooth or covered with fine 

 hairs, which differences, if not marking distinct species, may to 



