1871.] PROPAGATION OF ECHEVERIA METALLICA. 465 



fresh supplies of food. The borders, of course, contained the roots 

 which conducted the fresh supplies from their points to the Vines; 

 but' little attention was given — there, indeed, they were covered with 

 broad gravel -walks. No red-spider or shanking was an annoyance 

 there. This friend was the late Mr William Allan, who lived thirty- 

 five years as head-gardener to the late and present Lord Eendlesham 

 of Rendlesham Hall, Suffolk. Six years of his time were spent in 

 Italy. He was a keen observer, and dearly loved the cultivation of 

 the Vine and Peach, and he was with these (as indeed every branch 

 of his profession) singularly successful. Camellias flourished in Mr 

 Allan's hands. He carefully observed the Belgian growers, when he 

 lived in that country, collecting decayed wood, and carefully stor- 

 ing it up as mould for potting ; and many an old Oak at Rendle- 

 sham had its decayed centre scooped out by Mr Allan for potting 

 his Camellias. M. Temple. 



Balbiknle. 



PROPAGATION OP ECHEVERIA METALLICA 

 BY CUTTINGS. 



This striking plant is so useful in flower-gardening for various pur- 

 poses, that there are few places now where more or less of it is not 

 seen. Strictly speaking, it belongs to the class of fine or characteristic 

 leaved plants. Its leaves are more valuable for ornament than its flow- 

 ers ; and to permit it to flower is equivalent to wasting its beauty, for 

 the foliage quickly falls off in vigour and hue as the flower-stem elon- 

 gates, and the whole plant becomes ungainly, and unfit for any ornamen- 

 tal position. Large plants on one stem, with finely-developed leaves, 

 are beautiful objects in vases so placed as to be a little under the eye ; 

 and in higher positions they are striking in appearance when contrasted 

 side by side with softer and more graceful objects. They are like 

 bold castings in bronze, in their rigid symmetry and metallic hue. They 

 are invaluable subjects wherever beds have to be filled that are over- 

 run with roots of trees and shrubs, and probably overhung also by 

 their arms. I know no plant that delights more than this in such 

 circumstances. It picks up materials for luxuriant growth where the 

 soil is almost dust-dry to the depth of a foot or more ; and its leaves 

 acquire the deepest bronze and the finest form and size where the 

 roots appear to have the least encouragement. This, in my opinion, 

 constitutes its chief value for open-air gardening. It is hopeless to 

 attempt flowering-plants in such circumstances, and yet it frequently 

 happens that beds have to be filled in which flowering-plants cannot 

 be expected to succeed. This and other succulent subjects should be 



