28 



BALM. 



on this subject should be multiplied, and with pickles dif- 

 fering in strength and quality." In the last edition of 

 Deaneh New England Farmer^ it is observed, " that to a 

 bed fifty feet by six, a bushel of salt may be applied, with 

 goud effect, before the plants start in the spring." 



Use, — " The esculent part is the early shoots or buds, w hen 

 three or four inches high, and partially emerged from the 

 ground in May or June. They are in great esteem in Britain, 

 and on the continent ; and this plant has, in consequence, 

 been cultivated for an unknown period. In Paris, it is much 

 resorted to by the sedentary operative classes, Vv^hen they 

 are troubled with symptoms of gravel or stone." — Loudon. 



Forcing asparagus in hot beds. — The first step in this pro- 

 cess is to procure a supply of three year old plants, for none 

 else are fit for the purpose. Then form a hot bed, as di- 

 rected under the article Hot-bed, in the alphabetical ar 

 rangement of this work. In this set the plants, at the dis- 

 tance of two mches. Armstrong observes, that the mode 

 of taking the plants from hot beds " differs from that used 

 for plants raised in the natural w^ay. If you employ a knife, 

 /ou cannot fail to destroy many young plants, (on account 

 of the closeness with which they stand to each other,) but 

 ^he mode in which you do least mischief, is, to thrust your 

 finger down alongside of the bud, and break it off at the 

 :oot." 



BALM. — Melissa officinalis, — " The balm is a hardy pe- 

 rennial, with square stems, which rise two feet high or more, 

 furnished with large ovate leaves, growing by pairs at each 

 joint. It is a native of Switzerland and the south of 

 France, produces flowers of a purplish colour from June to 

 October." There is a variety with hairy leaves. 



Propagation, — " It is readily propagated by parting the 

 roots, preserving t^^o or three buds to each piece, or by 

 slips, either in autumn or spring." — Loudon, 



Culture, — Plant the slips or sets in any bed of common 

 earth, by dibble or trowel, and from eight inches to a foot 

 apart, giving v/ater, if dry weather. Those of the spring 

 planting will soon grow freely for use the same year; and 

 afterwards will increase by the root into large bunches of 

 several years' continuance, furnishing annual supplies from 

 March to September." — Loudon, 



Dried Bahi, — " Gather when coming into flower, and 



