BALSAM, (Impatiens,) Nat. Ord. BahaniinacecE. 
ALSAMINA, like the Aster, is one of the most beautiful and popu- 
lar of oui- Annuals. Like that flower, too, it is an old favorite^ 
and so much improved during 
the last quarter of a century, 
that it scarcely bears a resem- 
blance to the old flower. We 
give an engraving of the Bal- 
sam, which many of our read- 
ers will recognize as the 
Lady'' s Slipper of other days ; 
and though they formerly 
thought it handsome, and 
have a right to think so 
now, if they wish, yet it 
must be acknowledged there is a great improvement in this flower, and that the poor, single 
blossom so prized because associated with years and thoughts and friends of the past, is far 
inferior to the double, rose-like flower of to-day. Our climate is wonderfully adapted to the 
frowth of the Balsam. In some parts of Europe it requires a great deal of nursing to secure 
good plants; almost hot-house treatment. No flower pays better for a 
little extra care, in the way of em-iching the soil — a little guano water and 
the like. We have grown side branches of Balsam two inches in diam- 
eter at the base, two feet in length, and perfect wreaths of flowers. Sow 
\\\ a frame or in a sheltered bed in the garden in the spring, as soon as the 
weather is rather warm. 
Transplant when the second 
leaves have made a little 
growth. Set the plants ten or 
twelve inches apart, and when 
the side branches appear, 
pinch off all but three or four, 
and pinch out the center shoot. 
Those left will then grow strong, and the flowers will not be concealed by the foliage, as is the 
case when the plant is left unpruned. A very good way is to keep all the side shoots pinched off", 
leaving only the leading one. This will grow two or three feet in height, and be a perfect wreath 
of flowers. Treated in this way, they will bear close planting. Some people, however, prefer the 
Balsam unpruned, and we advise to try several plans. It is quite interesting to watch the results 
of such treatment. The engravings show the effect 
of pruning. Fig. 1, Dwarf Balsam of natural growth ; 
fig. 5, same pruned to five branches ; fig. 2, common 
Balsam of natural growth ; fig. 3, plant pruned to one 
branch ; fig. 4, pruned 
to three branches ; fig. 
6, flower of natural 
size. The Extra 
Dwarf Balsams grow 
only about six inches 
in height, while the 
tall varieties often 
reach nearly three 
feet in a rich soil. 
With the choicest 
seed the Balsam oc- 
OLD BALSAM. 
casionally insists on giving only semi-double flowers, balsa? 
and no one can tell why. Many think that old seed produces flowers 
62 
[ IMPROVED. 
more double than 
