56 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



abundance. The Melissa will flower in June or July ; the 

 Melittis, a month earlier. They may have a little water in 

 dry weather, and stand abroad throughout the year. In 

 autumn cut off the decayed stalks ; new ones will grow in 

 the spring. 



BALSAM. 



1MPATIENS. 



BALSAME^. SYNGENESIA MONOGAMIA. 



Latin, impatiens. Italian, balsamina; maraviglia di Francia; 

 [the wonder of France]. In Florence, begl 'uornini ; bell* uomo [fine 

 man], French, balsamine, or belsamine. The Yellow Balsam is also 

 called noli-me-tangere [touch me not] ; quick-in-hand and wild 

 mercury. French, la balsamine des bois [Balsam of the woods] ; la 

 merveille ; Therbe Sainte Catharine ; ne me touchez pas. Italian, 

 erba impaziente ; balsamina gialla [Yellow Balsam]. 



SOME of the names given to this plant refer to the 

 violence with which the ripe seeds dart from the seed- 

 vessel when touched. 



In the day-time the leaves of this plant are expanded, 

 but at night are pendent ; contrary to the habit of plants 

 in general, which are more apt to droop during the heat 

 of the day. This plant grows in England and many other 

 parts of Europe, and in Canada : it is the only species of 

 Impatiens which grows wild in Europe. 



The Garden Balsam, which, as its name implies, is the 

 most commonly cultivated in our gardens, is a native 

 of the East and West Indies, China, and Japan. The 

 Japanese use the juice prepared with alum to dye their 

 nails red. This beautiful flower has been much enlarged, 

 and numerous varieties have been produced, by culture. 

 Mr. Martyn, in his edition of Millar's Dictionary, speaks 

 of having seen one, " the stem of which was seven inches 

 in circumference, and all the parts large in proportion ; 



