A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

B AL 77 B A N
Old beds may be gathered from in
July, for drying, but their green leaves
from March and September, and those
planted in spring, will even atTord a
gathering in the autumn of the same
year. For drying, the stalks are cut
with their full clothing of leaves to the
very bottom, and the process completed
gradually in the shade.
BALM OF GILEAD. Several plants
are popularly known under this name.
"The Balm ofGilead of commerce is the
dried juice of a low tree or shrub {amyris
^ileadensis), which grows in several
])arts of Abyssinia and Syria. This tree
has spreading, crooked branches; small,
bright-green leaves, growing in threes ;
and small, white flowers on separate
footstalks. The petals are four in number,
and the fruit is a small, egg-shaped
berry, containing a smooth nut. By the
inhabitants of Syria and Egypt, this balsam,
as ap[)ears from the Scriptures,
was in great esteem from the highest
periods of antiquity. We are informed
by Josephus, the Jewish historian, that
the balsam of Oilead was one of the
trees which was given by the queen of
Sheba to king Solomon. The Ishmaelitish
merchants, who were the purchasers
of Joseph, are said to have been
traveling from Gilead, on the eastern
side of Canaan, to Egypt, and to have
had their camels laden with ' spicery,
balm and myrrh.' It was then, and is
still, considered one of the most valuable
medicines that the inhabitants of
those countries possess. The virtues,
'] of
I procured.
' teem
\ BALSAM
—
aromatic and astringent. The quantity
balsam yielded by one tree never
exceeds 60 drops in a day. Hence its
scarcity is such, that the genuine balsam
is seldom exported as an article ot'
commerce. Even at Constantinople,
the centre of trade of those countries,
it cannot, without great difficulty, be
In Turkey, it is in high cs-
as a medicine, an odorifor'bus unguent
and a cosmetic. But its stimulating
properties upon the skin are such,
that the face of a person unaccustomed
to use it becomes red and swollen after
its application, and continues so for
some days. The Turks also take it in
small qantities, in water, to fortify the
stomacli."' Encyc. Am.
or LADIES' SLIPPERS
(Impatiens trifiora). The cultivation of
this common yet beautiful half hardy
annual is so thoroughly understood, as
not to require remark farther than •' we
believe it to be true, that old seeds
produce finer balsams under equal circumstances
than new seeds ; and the
reason is thought to be, that the plants
raised from old seeds are not so vigor-
ous as others."
—
Card. Citron.
BALSAM APPLE. Momordica balsam
inea.
BALSAMINA. Balsam. Eleven
species. Green-house annuals. Seeds.
Light rich loamy soil.
BALSAMODENDRON zeylanicum.
Stove evergreen tree. Cuttings. Sandy
i
\
\
i
however, which have been ascribed to
loam and peat.
BALSAM-TREE. Clusia.
BANANA-TREE. Musa Sa-
it exceed all rational bounds of credipientum.bility. The mode in which it is obtain- BANE-BERRY.
ed is described by Mr. Bruce. The BANNISTERIA.
Acta:a.
Thirteen species.
bark of the tree is cut with an axe, at Chiefly stove evergreen twining plants.
a time when its juices are in their Cuttings. Loam and sandy peat.
strongest circulation. These, as they BANK'S {slopi?ig), says Mr. Barnes,
ooze through the wound, are received " Are of great advantage in bringing
into small earthen bottles ; and everv forth vegetation of all kinds at an early
day's produce is gathered, and poured season in a healthy state, and in the
into a larger bottle, which is closely
corked. When the juice first issues
greatest abundance. Another great advantage
is their forming a boundary and
from the wound, it is of a light-yellow shelter to the valleys, borders, or slips
colour, and a somewhat turbid appear- between them, dividing the quarters
ance ; but, as it settles, it becomes into any desired portions, for the suc-
clear, has the colour of honey, and apcession of all vegetable crops, salads,
pears more fixed and heavy than at first.
Its smell, when fresh, is exquisitely fra-
&c. By cropping both sides, the season
of thedifl'erent articles is prolonged, and
grant, strongly pungent, not much un- through their being placed in such a
like that of volatile salts; but if the healthy situation,! find I can always
bottle be left uncorked, it soon loses secure abundance of salads, lettuce,
this quality. Its taste is bitter, acrid, ; endive, radishes, cauliflower, and cab-