1872 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
381 
Bee-Balm, or Oswego Tea. 
The plant which we figure, and which is 
known as Bee-Balm, Oswego Tea, Crimson 
Balm, Horse-Mint, Bergamot, etc., is a very old 
inhabitant of our gardens. It is a native of the 
of the careless cultivator is the Soapwort, which 
is found about door-yards, in neglected fence- 
corners, and by the road-side. A single speci¬ 
men of the Soapwort is not inelegant. In its 
form and general habit it reminds one of its 
relative the Sweet-William; in color it is of a 
Window-Gardening in London—Cottage 
Gardens. 
BT PETER HENDERSON. 
One of the most refreshing sights to an 
American arriving in London during the sum- 
BEE-BALM, OR OSWEGO TEA. SOAPWORT, OR BOUNCING BET. 
wooded bauks of streams iu the Northern States, 
and is oue of the most showy of our wild flowers. 
Its botanical name is Monarda didyma. The 
Monarda3 or Horse-Mints generally abound in 
an aromatic oil, which is in some species more 
pungent than the oue under consideration, and 
leads to all the species being more or less used 
in domestic medicine. It is, however, as an or¬ 
namental plant the Bee-Balm is chiefly valued. 
It produces compact heads of large scarlet 
flowers. These heads are closely surrounded 
by flower-leaves or bracts, which are also col¬ 
ored. We very frequently find, as shown iu 
the figure, one flower-cluster growing from the 
center of another. The Bee-Balm is a plant of 
the easiest culture, requiring only division of 
the clumps where they have become too large, 
and though rather too weedy in its appearance 
to be called a first-class flower, it is useful to 
make a show in places where its brilliant color 
can be seen from a little distance. 
The Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). 
Some plants have the singular peculiarity of 
hanging about dwellings, and are seldom found 
in any other position. Notably among these 
plants is the common Plantain, which seems to 
thrive all the better in a situation where it can 
be trodden upon. Another constant companion 
slight blush or rose, and its fragrance is rather 
pleasant than otherwise. Still, notwithstanding 
these merits, it is in the mass nothing but a 
slovenly weed, and indicative of careless culti¬ 
vation. The stems generally grow from one to 
two feet high, and bear clusters of flowers 
which are single or double. We are inclined to 
think that in this country the variety with double 
flowers is more common than the single. Tire 
plant is a native of Europe, and is said to have 
early been used as a substitute for soap, whence 
its generic name Saponaria. When the leaves 
are crushed and rubbed with water, a principle 
called sapouiue is liberated, which possesses the 
property of forming a lather with water and of 
cleansing fabrics. There are several vegetables 
used in various parts of the world as a substi¬ 
tute for soap. One which grows upon the Pacific 
coast is considerably used by botli Spanish and 
American residents, under the name of Soap- 
plant. It, however, belongs to a very different 
family from the plant under consideration. An 
old English name for the Soapwort is Fuller’s- 
herb, which has also reference to its detersive 
properties. One of the common names by 
which the plant is known in this country is 
Bouncing Bet. Some species of Saponaria are 
cultivated for ornament, and we have even seen 
the common Soapwort in old-fashioned gardens. 
It can, however, only be 'regarded as a weed, 
and one not very difficult to eradicate. 
mer months is the wonderful diversity and 
beauty of the flowers cultivated in the windows 
and balconies of the houses. In some of the 
best streets hardly a house can be seen that is 
not so adorned, and even the most squalid 
abodes of vice and poverty are often relieved 
by a miniature flower-garden on the window¬ 
sill. The most common style is the window- 
box, made to fit the window, usually from four to 
five feet long and about six to eight inches wide 
and deep. It is made of every conceivable pat¬ 
tern, of terra-cotta, cork, and rustic design in 
endless variety. The plants used are not very 
numerous in variety, being selected of kinds 
suited to keep in bloom or to sustain their 
brightness of foliage. Now and then the rib¬ 
bon-line system is adopted on the balconies; 
one very handsome in this style was composed 
first of Moneywort (Lysimachia nummular id), 
which formed a drooping curtain of four feet 
in length; half-way down on it drooped blue 
Lobelia; then upon the Lobelia fell a bright 
yellow Sedum (Stone-crop); then against the 
Sedum, for the top-line or background, a dwarf 
Zonale Geranium, a perfect blaze of scarlet. 
Hardly two of these window decorations were 
alike in the best streets, and varied from a simple 
box of Mignonette or Sweet Alyssum to cases 
filled with the rarest ferns or orchids. The 
effect as a whole is most pleasing, and one that 
can not fail to strike the most indifferent ob~ 
