512 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



(Continued from page, 446.) 



CItASSULACEiE. 



The hardy section of this tribe comprises few genera but many species. 

 A good many of them were old familiar plants in gardens ; but they 

 have for many years been lost sight of, their quiet unobtrusive style 

 being scarcely tolerated while the rage for colour was rampant. Re- 

 cently, however, some species of Sempervivum with rigid geometric 

 aspect, and Sedums with close carpet-like growth or glaucous leaves, 

 and several Echeverias, along with other plants of succulent or peculiar 

 foliage, have been used to produce novel and pretty results in flower- 

 gardening. It is a step in the right direction, and will serve to relieve 

 the present style of flower-gardening from the ban of obtrusive monot- 

 ony that has been laid on it for some time. Very few, if any, of the 

 hardy Crassulacere are distinguished by brilliant colours or showy 

 qualities of any kind ; their peculiar recommendations are rather that 

 they abound in soft tints of flower and foliage, and great variety of 

 form and aspect — they are, in fact, generally humble quiet objects, 

 but attractive and pleasing in a high degree. For the most part they 

 are mountain rock-plants, generally affecting dry habitats where little 

 else will grow but themselves ; they are therefore naturally well 

 adapted for ornamenting dry rock work, for planting in thin gravelly 

 soil, on dry exposed banks, and for draping stumps and stones and 

 old walls or ruins with a varied mantle of interesting vegetation. 

 Many of them are excellent border-plants ; and, as already alluded to 

 above, some are likely to become popular for many uses in the flower- 

 gardens in bedding out. They are plants of the easiest culture, flourish- 

 ing abundantly in almost any soil but those that are excessively wet ; 

 but special requirements of species for peculiar purposes will be noticed 

 afterwards in the proper place. All may be propagated by division — 

 that method is unmistakably suggested to even the casual observer by 

 the Sempervivums generally, which divide themselves, more or less 

 freely, annually; but in nearly every case propagation in this tribe is 

 the most simple matter, whether by division or cuttings. 



Cotyledon umbilicus, syn. Umbilicus pendulinus — Wall Navelwort. 

 — The genus Cotyledon is a small one, comprising plants of no strik- 

 ing ornamental qualities; but they are useful for planting on old walls 

 with a view to covering them, and are easily established in such posi- 

 tions if inserted in crevices where a little soil or decayed lime or stone 

 exists — anything, in short, that will serve to retain them in their place, 

 along with a little moisture, which is all they appear to want in the 

 shape of nutriment. The species selected grows about 6 or 9 inches 



