OBSERVATIONS ON MESEMBRYANTHEMUMS. 171 



pose that this treatment will of itself he sufficient to produce the effect 

 above mentioned. It is also imagined, that, by withholding water 

 from these plants for a time, their flowering may be facilitated, and 

 the flowers rendered finer and more abundant; this is likewise to a 

 great extent an equally erroneous hypothesis, if the success be attri- 

 buted to this treatment alone, as may be sufficiently proved by placing 

 the various species of this genus in a sterile soil, administering water 

 very sparingly, or wholly withholding it for a time, and keeping them 

 in a shaded or gloomy situation where the rays of the sun can never 

 reach them ; the result of which will be, that they will either produce 

 few and insignificant flowers, or be altogether destitute of them. 

 But if, instead of being kept in this unfavourable position, they are 

 placed in an open and exposed situation, where they can receive a 

 great degree of solar light, I find they will speedily produce a most 

 brilliant display of flowers, and these will continue expanding for a 

 great length of time. It therefore plainly appears that it is the influ- 

 ence of light which causes these plants to flower so profusely, and not 

 the nature of the soil or the quantity of water administered; though 

 these latter doubtless contribute in some degree to produce the above 

 desirable effects. Indeed, this must be abundantly evident to every 

 intelligent cultivator who has been accustomed to place these plants 

 in the open air ; for it is irrational to suppose that poverty of soil or 

 scarcity of water alone would cause them to flower 60 freely. Mesem- 

 bryanthemums, like most other succulent plants, I find require a great 

 degree of solar light to enable them to produce their flowers in per- 

 fection ; and whether they are kept in the greenhouse, or in the open 

 air, this important particular, in order to success, must be duly and 

 properly attended to, otherwise disappointment will follow. During 

 the summer months, however, many of the species will flower better 

 in the open air than if kept in the greenhouse, as in the former situa- 

 tion they receive a far greater degree of light. 



I use a rich, light loam, with a slight mixture of very rotten dung, 

 and a trifling admixture of lime-rubbish with the above, or a good 

 proportion of river or white sand, which is very necessary, if not 

 essential, to cultivate, or at least to flower, these plants in a superior 

 manner. With respect to the quantity of water which they require, 

 I am averse to administering to them too large a supply at any time, 

 but more especially in the winter; and am of opinion, that so long 



Q 2 



