ALOYSIA — BALSAM. 347 



Aloysia. 



The lemon-scented Verbena, A. citriodora, an old inhabitant 

 of our gardens, belongs to the Verbenacea, and is a very 

 popular plant, being grown for its grateful perfume. It is 

 very useful for bouquets, and to mix with cut flowers for 

 dressing vases, &c. It delights in rich loam and leaf mould ; 

 and as the shoots are continually being cut, it is not so apt 

 as many other plants to grow too vigorously. It is a deci- 

 duous plant, and should be kept partially dry during winter. 

 The flowers are small, of a very pale purple colour. The 

 plant is a native of Chili. 



Balsam (Bahamina Jwrfensis), 



The Balsam is one of the class of tender annuals, and, 

 when of a good strain, is amongst the most showy of late 

 summer and autumn flowers. The soil best adapted for their 

 culture is a mixture of rich loam and leaf mould, with a 

 portion of sharp sand added. If required early, the seeds 

 should be sown in March, and the plants raised in a moist 

 heat ; and, for a succession, another sowing should be made 

 in AprU or May. When two or three inches high pot the 

 plants separately, and continue shifting them as they fill the 

 pots with roots. They answer best grown in pits or frames 

 with a moderate heat, as they can be kept close to the glass 

 and be prevented from drawing up. As summer advances 

 more air must be given, and the syringe must be freely used 

 to keep away red spider. An application of weak liquid 

 manure about twice a-week during the growing season will 

 also be of great advantage. The splendid double flowers of 

 the fine strain of B. hoi-tensis supersede for decorative pur- 

 poses all other members of the genus, and as they remain in 



