JAMES VICK,\ ROCHESTER , N. Y 
BALSAM. 
Balsamina, like the Aster, is one of the most beautiful 
and popular of our Annuals. Like that flower, too, it j 
is an old favorite, and so much improved during the last j 
■quarter of a century, that it scarcely bears a resem- 1 
blance to the old flower. Our climate is wonderfully 
adapted to the growth of the Balsam, and with a good, | 
rich soil, and decent care, plants and flowers of the great- j 
•est excellence are produced. Sow in a frame or bed 
When the plants appear to be making too thick a head, 
so as to hide the flowers, it is 
a good plan to cut out some 
of the branches when small. 
The Balsam can be pruned to 
any form desired, to two or 
three, or even one branch. No 
plant will better pay for extra 
care. We give engravings 
showing two plants, one prun¬ 
ed to a single central branch, 
and another with four or five 
branches. The unnecessary 
shoots can be picked out when 
young. If allowed to grow 
naturally the Balsam makes a 
.ompact plant and many of its flowers are hidden. The 
small engraving represents the Dwarf Balsam as it grows 
naturally. A good way to show cut flowers of the Bal¬ 
sam in the house or at exhibitions is in a shallow dish of 
moist sand, as shown in our engraving. For the center 
of a bouquet a good double Balsam is almost as fine as a 
•Camellia, but must be furnished with an artificial stem. 
13 
Balsam, Camellia-flowered, French, ten colors, 
each in separate package ; each color, .... 15 
Camellia-flowered, White, extra choice,double 2^ 
Camellia-flowered, Spotted, German, double ; 
spotted with white ; mixed colors,. 15 
Rose-flowered, French ; double ; mixed colors, 10 
Dwarf Camellia-flowered Spotted, German, 
8 or 10 inches in height ; splendid for a border 
or outside row of a bed, . 15 
Extra Double Dwarf, very double; 6inches, . 15 
Half Dwarf, 18 inches in height, . 15 
Carnation, double; striped like the Carnation, . 15 
Solferino, white, striped and spotted with red, . 15 
Common Double, occasionally only semi-double, 5 
BARTONIA. 
Bartonia aurea is a very showy, half-hardy annual. 
The leaves are somewhat Thistle-like in appearance, 
gray and downy. The flowers are of a very bright, me¬ 
tallic yellow, and exceedingly brilliant in the sunshine. 
It likes consi lerable moisture, and young plants suffer 
sometimes in a dry time. Flowers about twice the size 
of the engraving. Sow the seed where the plant is to 
flower, as it docs not bear transplanting very well. 
Bartonia aurca, plant prostrate in habit, ... 5 
BRACHYCOME. 
The Brachycomc iberidifolia is a daisy-like flower, 
found on the banks of the Swan River, in Australia, and 
is sometimes called Swan River Daisy. An elegant 
little plant, growing about eight inches high, of compact, 
branching habit, and abundance of flowers, something 
like those of the Cineraria. An excellent Daisy-like 
flower deserving more attention than it receives. 
Brachycomc iberidifolia,(Swan River Daisy,' 
blue and white, separate nr mixed . 10 
