Double Balsam. 2$ 



DOUBLE BALSAM. — Impat.ens balsaviina. 



By Joseph Breck, Ex-President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



The garden-balsam is one of the old denizens of the flower-garden, and 

 not one of the most desirable, as it appeared in its single state in olden 

 time. It was generally known as the " touch-me-not," on account of the 

 seed-vessels, which, when they are nearly mature, open with a spring, upon 

 the touch, and scatter their seeds in every direction. They found a place 

 in the flower-garden more on account of this novelty than for the beauty of 

 their flowers, which, in their unimproved state, were any thing but orna- 



SoLFERiNO Balsam. 



mental, especially as they were generally huddled together in the garden. 

 They produced seed in great abundance, which is very different with the 

 camellia, and rose-flowered, which give it very sparingly : sometimes it is 

 with difficulty a single capsule can be found on a large plant, and, even in 

 these, not more than three or four seeds that are perfect. The seed of the 

 balsam is improved by age, and will retain its vitality for eight years or 

 more ; gardeners alleging that the older the seed the better, if it will vege- 

 tate, as it will produce more double flowers. 



Although the flowers of the balsam cannot be used in bouquets, yet, for 



