110 OBSERVATIONS ON MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS. 



our readers know, is one of the most ornamental and gay spring- 

 flowering shrubs, most strikingly adorning the pleasure-border during 

 April and May ; this new hybrid will give greater effect to it, where- 

 ever grown near together, producing so fine a contrast. The racemes 

 and blossoms are larger in R. albidum than those of R. sanguineum. 

 The plant grows as freely, and is as readily propagated as the latter- 

 named species. It deserves a place wherever it can be grown. 



ARTICLE II. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT 

 OF MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS. 



BY CI.EUICUS. 



Whenever a subject of floral interest presents itself to my notice, it 

 affords me much pleasure to be able to offer a few remarks upon it ; 

 and my attention is now directed to the extremely beautiful though 

 little cultivated genus, Mesembryanthemum, having a bed of tbem 

 growing in the open ground, under a south aspected wall, and which, 

 during sunny days, compose a blaze of beauty. Besides which I grow 

 200 plants iu my greenhouse. There are upwards of 300 distinct 

 species and varieties grown in this country, and I possess 162 of 

 them in my collection, all of which possess some peculiar claims to 

 beauty and interest, both in foliage and flowers. Producing annually 

 an immense number of flowers of the most brilliant colours, and yet 

 of the most extensive variety, having thick, fleshy foliage, of a most 

 singular and interesting character, and being besides most easily cul- 

 tivated, this beautiful genus appears to me to possess charms and 

 merits of a more than ordinary nature ; and I am at a loss to imagine 

 how many cultivators can willingly neglect, or wilfully despise, a genus 

 of plants which certainly deserves to rank amongst the most pleasing 

 and delightful of nature's productions. 



These plants require a great degree of solar light; and though this 

 may safely be said to be one of the most important features in their 

 cultivation, there are other particulars which require equal attention 

 and consideration. It is generally believed, that if these plants are 

 placed in a poor and sterile soil, they may be induced to flower more 

 profusely, and that the flowers will be finer and of better colours. To 

 a limited extent this notion is correct ; but it is a great error to sup- 



