JUNE. | ria 8 
IRIS RETICULATA. 
(PuatTE 165.) 
For the opportunity of figuring this charming little spring- 
flowering plant, we are indebted to Mr. Handasyde, of the 
Glen Nurseries, Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, who has for 
several years. been paying considerable attention to its culti- 
vation and propagation. Its colours, as will be seen, are 
extremely beautiful, and the flowers are produced in sufficient 
abundance to render them effective and striking. Among 
early plants it is, in short, a perfect gem, blooming as it does 
in the greatest perfection all through the months of March 
and April, the golden yellow blotched lip setting off the bright 
purplish blue flowers to excellent advantage. For purposes of 
spring garden decoration, it will doubtless be regarded as a 
great acquisition; it is very dwarf, scarcely rising more than 
6 inches in height, and it is stated to be sweet-scented. 
Though not new, this pretty little plant is not nearly so well 
known as it deserves to be; let us therefore hope that the 
prominence thus given it may be the means of bringing it 
again more into notice, which is all it wants to render it a 
universal favourite. It is perfectly hardy, and succeeds best 
in a mixture of bog or peat soil. We understand that Mr. 
Handasyde intends sending it out in September next. 
THE BALSAM. 
WHEN well grown, the Balsam is perhaps the showiest of all our 
annual plants, and the one best adapted for conservatory or house 
decoration from July to September; but then it requires, I may say, 
daily attention to grow it, with the requisite vigour, to result in good, 
handsome specimens, 30 inches high, and nearly as much through, 
with each branch covered with bold double flowers, as large as a 
Carnation, and double as Camellia imbricata. Specimens of this kind 
are, however, attainable with the assistance of a good garden frame or pit; 
but they require, as noticed above, good cultivation, to get them up to 
the mark; and, with the object of showing how plants, such as are 
described, may be grown, I will briefly record my own practice, from 
the present date, supposing the plants to be now in 60-sized pots. 
Let me first give a short rationale of culture. 
Free growing, semi-succulent annuals as the Balsam require— 
Istly, all the light our climate affords, which suggests clean glass, and 
that the plants, during all the stages of their growth up to blooming, 
should be kept as near it as is practicable. 2ndly, a rich open compost 
to grow in, through which the roots will readily ramify and penetrate, 
VOL. XIV., NO. CL. M 
