126 



BALSAM 



fls. It has varied immensely in the doubling, size and 

 color of its fls. and in the stature of the plant. It was 

 known to Gerarde in 1596. The plant has lanceolate, 

 toothed Ivs., the lower ones being mostly in pairs. The 

 fls. are clustered in the axils of the Ivs., on very short 



181. Camellia-flowered Balsam. 



stalks ; sepals and petals similarly colored and not 

 easily distinguished, one of the sepals (of which there 

 seem to be 3) long-spurred ; petals apparently 3, but 

 two of them probably represent two united petals, 

 thus making 5 ; stamens 5. The pod, shown in Figs. 

 179 and 180, is explosive. It has 5 carpels and very thin 

 partitions, and seeds borne on axile placentae. When 

 the capsules are ripe, a pinch or concussion will cause 

 the valves to separate and contract, the seeds being 

 thrown with considerable force. 



The full-double Balsams are known as the Camellia- 

 flowered varieties (Fig. 181). In well selected stock, the 

 greater part of the flowers from any batch of seedlings 

 should come very double. The colors range from white 

 to dark blood-red, yellowish and spotted. Balsams are 

 of very easy culture. They are tender, and should be 

 started in thumb-pots or boxes indoors, or in the open 

 when danger of frost is past. The seeds are large, 

 and germinate quickly. The plants prefer a rich, sandy 

 loam, and must not suffer for moisture. Transplanting, 

 and pinching-in the strong shoots, tend to make the 

 plants dwarf and compact. It is well to remove the first 

 flower-buds, especially if the plants are not thoroughly 

 established. Better results are obtained when only a 

 few main branches are allowed to grow, all the secondary 

 and weak ones being pinched out. The lower Ivs. may 





182. The garden Balsam. 



be removed if they obscure the fls. Well grown plants 

 should stand 2 ft. apart each way, and the tall kinds will 

 reach a height of 2-2% ft. Seed of the finest double 

 strains is expensive, but inferior or common seed 

 gives little satisfaction. Plants started early in May 



BAMBOO 



should give fls. in July, and should bloom until frost. 

 A full grown plant is shown in Fig. 182. At the present 

 time, Balsams are grown chiefly for their value as 

 flower-garden plants ; but some years ago the fls. were 

 largely used as groiindwork" in florists' designs, par- 

 ticularly the double white varieties. The flowers were 

 wired to toothpicks, and were then thrust into the moss 

 which formed the body of the design. L H B 



BALSAMORRHIZ A (Greek, balsam root) . Compdsitce. 

 Low perennials with thick, deep, resinous roots, tufts of 

 radical Ivs., and large, yellow fls. Cent, and W. N. Amer 



Hodkeri, Nutt. Height 4-12 in. : Ivs. lanceolate, 1-2- 

 pinnately parted : fls. solitary, on naked scapes. Int. 

 1881 by E. Gillett, but scarcely known to horticulturists. 



BAMBOO. Various giant perennial grasses consist- 

 ing of the genera and species of the tribe Bambusece, 

 order Graminece. Usually large and often tree-like, 

 woody, rarely herbaceous or climbing, of wide geo- 

 graphical range. The species are irregularly distributed 

 throughout the tropical zone, a few occurring in sub- 

 tropical and temperate zones, and reaching their maxi- 

 mum development in the monsoon regions of Asia. 

 About 23 genera, only 2 being common to both hemi- 

 spheres. Something more than 200 species are recog- 

 nized, of which upwards of 160 occur in Asia, about 70 

 in America, and 5 in Africa. They extend from sea-level 

 to altitudes of more than 10,000 ft. in the Himalayas and 

 15,000 ft. in the Andes, and under the most favorable 

 conditions some species may attain a height of 100-120 

 ft., with a diam. of culm of 8-12 inches. 



An attempt to portray the many economic uses of the 

 giant-grasses would greatly overreach the field of this 

 article ; but as objects of grace and beauty in the garden, 

 conservatory, and special conditions of landscape, the 

 Bamboos are invaluable. Not only are they available to 

 planters where the climatic conditions are very favora- 

 ble, but it is possible to grow certain species where the 

 cold of winter may reach zero Fahrenheit, or even occa- 

 sional depressions of greater severity. 



Bamboos delight in a deep, rich loam, and generously 

 respond to good treatment. A warm, slightly shady 

 nook, protected from the prevailing winds of winter r 

 and where moist but well-drained soil is plentiful, is an 

 ideal location for these beautiful grasses. A top-dress- 

 ing of manure and leaves is not only beneficial in winter, 

 by preventing the frost from penetrating the ground too 

 deeply, but it also preserves the moisture that is so es- 

 sential to the welfare of the plants during the growing 

 season. Some species produce rampant subterranean 

 stems, and spread rapidly when once established. It is 

 best to plant each group of but one species, and to re- 

 strict the rapidly-spreading sorts to isolated positions. 

 The most effective results to be obtained by planting 

 Bamboos are secured on gentle banks above clear water 

 and against a strong background of the deepest green. 

 In such situations the gracefully arched stems, the 

 dainty branches, bending with their wealth of soft green 

 Ivs., and the careless lines of symmetry of each individ- 

 ual, lend a bold contrast of the richest beauty. It will 

 require a few years to thoroughly establish a clump of 

 Bamboos in the open air, and until this is effected the 

 vigor, hardiness and beauty that characterize some noble 

 sorts are lacking. During the early life of the groups, 

 some protection should be given where the winters are 

 trying, and even with this precaution it is likely the 

 plants will suffer to some extent at first during cold 

 weather. Planted out in conservatories or confined in 

 tubs or large pots, the Bamboos present many admirable 

 qualities. As decorative plants in tubs or pots, either 

 alone or associated with palms and other stock, several 

 species offer many inducements to their cultivation, es- 

 pecially as they may be grown in summer and wintered 

 in a coolhouse. Propagation is best effected by careful 

 division of the clumps before the annual growth has 

 started. The difficulty of procuring seeds in some in- 

 stances is very great ; indeed, the fruiting of a number 

 of species has never been observed. Some species flower 

 annually, but the majority reach this stage only at inter- 

 vals of indefinite and frequently widely separated peri- 

 ods. In some species the fls. appear on leafy branches ; 



