54 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



plants. The generic title, Impatiens, was given because the 

 seed pods are impatient of the slightest touch when the seeds 

 are nearly ripe, the valves discharging the seeds at the least 

 provocation and to a little distance. 



Of Ivipatiens Balsaminn, there are several florists' strains : 

 the chief of these are those known as Camellia-flowered and 

 Rose-flowered. A dwarf strain grows only about 6 inches 

 high. The Rose Balsam may be obtained in a number of 

 colours, and these come true. The Camellia -flowered 

 Balsams are the finest for general purposes, and are sold 

 in distinct colours, notably salmon-pink, white, rose, violet, 

 scarlet, and cream. Both these strains reach a height of 

 i\ foot to 2 feet. 



/. amphorata, 4 feet to 6 feet, is a Hardy Annual that pro- 

 duces pale purple flowers at the end of the Summer, and is 

 fine for large borders or for the semi-wild garden ; /. bijiora, 

 3 feet, orange, is of less merit, but quite hardy, and looks 

 well by the water side; /. discolor, li foot, yellowish, is also 

 hardy. /. Roylei, 4 feet to 6 feet, is a noble plant, and 

 has purplish or white flowers ; this is a variable species, 

 the variety macrochila growing a couple of feet higher than 

 the type, and bearing light purple flowers, while the variety 

 pallidiflora is of similar character but has paler blooms. /. 

 Roylei and its varieties are of considerable value in the larger 

 gardens, but in many places the plant is so rampant that 

 it is regarded as a coarse weed rather than a flower to 

 encourage. 



lONOPSIDIUM 



" Violet Cress" 



One of the gems among Hardy Annuals is the dainty lonop- 

 sidium acaule {Cruci/era), which grows about 2 inches high. 



