**TOUCH-ME-NOT**, and **Balsamine**: A genus of the monogamia order, belonging to the syngenesia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 24th order, Corydaliae. The calyx is diphyllous; the corolla pentapetalous, and irregular, with an hooded nectarium; the capsule superior and quinquevalved.

*Species.* 1. The noli-me-tangere, or common yellow balsamine, is a native of Britain, but is cultivated in many gardens for curiosity. It hath a fibrous root, an upright, jointed, succulent stalk, about 18 inches high, with alternate oval leaves; and, from the axillas of the stalks, long, slender, branching footstalks, each sustaining many yellow flowers; succeeded by taper capsules, that burst open and dart forth their seeds with great velocity, whence its name. 2. The balsamina, or balsam, is a native of India. It hath a fibrous root, an upright, thick, succulent stalk, branching all around a foot and an half or two feet high; with long, spear shaped, sawed leaves, the upper ones alternate; and from the joints of the stalk and branches clutters of short foot-stalks, each sustaining one large irregular flower, of different colours in the varieties; flowering from June or July till September.

*Culture.* The first species is very hardy, and will grow freely from the seeds in any common border; but the second requires artificial warmth. The seeds will indeed grow in the full ground, but rarely before the month of May; and more freely then, if covered with a hand-glass, &c. But the plants raised by artificial heat will flower five or six weeks sooner than those raised in the natural ground. The seeds ought therefore always to be sown on a hot-bed in March or April, and the plants continued therein till June; and if the frames be deep, they will then be drawn up to the length of two or three feet; after which they may be planted in pots, which must likewise be continued in the hot-bed till the plants have taken fresh root.