BALSAM. 49 



succulent plant, great care must be taken not to let water 

 drip on it, nor to sprinkle it on the leaves or flowers. It 

 loves the shade, and will thrive the better if shaded from 

 the mid-day sun by the intervention of some light shrub, 

 as the Persian lilac, &c. The Balsam is a general fa- 

 vourite for the number and beauty of the flowers, their 

 sweetness, and the uprightness and transparency of its 

 stem: 



' ' Balsam, with its shaft of amber," 



says the poet, and the propriety of the expression has 

 been questioned ; but the introduction of a Balsam in the 

 sunshine, not only fully justified its propriety, but excited 

 surprise in those who had questioned it, at their own want 

 of observation. 



BASIL. 



OCYMUM. 



LABIATE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



Basil is from a Greek word, signifying royal. It is generally called 

 sweet basil. French, basilic; la plante royale Italian, basilico; 

 ozzimo. Ocymum is from a Greek word signifying swift, because the 

 seed when sown comes up very quickly. 



BASILS are either herbs, or undershrubs, generally of a 

 sweet and powerful scent : they are chiefly natives of the 

 East Indies, and in this climate require protection from 

 frost. They are raised in a hot-bed, but should have as 

 much air as possible in mild weather. They may stand 

 abroad from May to the end of September, or of October, 

 according as the weather is more or less mild at this 

 season. They should be kept moderately moist. 



Many of the Basils will not live in this country, unless 

 in a hot-house, but there are many that will, and among 



E 



