ON MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS, &C. 197 



similar border kinds, which have been found difficult to increase 

 from cuttings of the wood or young shoots, and have never 

 known it fail. The following February is the best time to take 

 up the young plants, and remove them to beds for flowering, 

 which they will do very freely if taken up with as many fibrous 

 roots as possible. Well rotted cow dung is the best manure for 

 the rose, being cooler than horse dung, &c. a portion of it laid 

 over the roots of the plants early in March, and either just 

 pointed in or covered over with a little fresh loam, which im- 

 proves the vigour of the plants and increase of bloom. — Con- 

 ductor.) 



ARTICLE IV. 



ON MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS GROWN IN THE OPEN BED OR ON- 

 ROCK WORK. 



BY LAURA. 



This very extensive family of plants, furnishes a considerable 

 quantity of very great beauty. The neatness in form, splendour 

 of colour, and the profusion of blossoms, alike contributing to 

 give them interest. In no situation do they appear to greater ad- 

 vantage than on a rock work, which has an open aspect to the 

 sun from nine o'clock in the morning to four in the afternoon, 

 Plants turned out of pots towards the end of May in various situ- 

 ations, so as to intermix the colours to the greatest contrast, and 

 where they will give most effect, selecting trailing species where 

 such are required, to hang down the face of a piece of rock, and 

 upright growing kinds to rise out of hollows. Selections suitable 

 are readily obtained at a cheap rate of nurserymen, who will give 

 the best kinds both with regard to habit and colour for the pur- 

 pose for which they are required. 



The soil which I have found them to flourish best in, is loam, 

 well enriched with old dung, with near one-sixth of sand ; this 

 allows water to pass readily away from the roots, and is essential 

 to their success, for when the soil is close, and becomes sodden- 

 ed around the roots, the plants always become sickly. A free 

 supply of water is also necessary, when they are growing and 

 blooming; plants turned out in spring will continue to bloom till 

 frost sets in. An open aspect to the sun is indispensible to their 

 blooming and the flowers expanding. 



In addition to furnishing a rock work, I had a bed made in front 



