GKAMMANTHES GENTIANOIDES. 29 



aoil, is further augmented by a temperature considerably higher than that wc enjoy 

 in this country. Upon rock-work the plant is certainly less exposed to the evils 

 arising from a rich soil ; but the atmospheric humidity not uncommon with us even 

 in the summer season is not so easily guarded against. The nearest approximation 

 to the native climate of the Grammanthes would perhaps, be found in the green- 

 house or a warm south window, where we have found it succeed very well. In 

 any case, however, the blossoms will only expand in bright weather, a rather 

 unusual circumstance with Crassulaceous plants. 



The least attentive observer cannot fail to be struck, in a survey of the vegetable 

 kingdom, with the wonderful adaptation of the various organs of the different 

 tribes of plants to the situations in which they are usually found. 



If we at this time confine our observations to the leaves of plants, we find 

 that those species which are natives of moist climates or soils, and which con- 

 sequently imbibe by their roots a considerable amount of fluid, are furnished with 

 leaves, the cuticle of which is set with innumerable pores or stomata, as they are 

 termed in botanical parlance, through which the redundant juices of the plant are 

 exhaled into the atmosphere whence they were originally derived ; whilst in those 

 plants which are parasitical, like the misletoe, or which are natives of the sandy 

 districts of warm climates, as in the case of many of those comprised in the orders 

 Crassulacece and Cactacece these breathing apertures are in direct proportion to the 

 small volume of root-nutriment absorbed by the plant, and are therefore few 

 in number. Of these plants, Lindley has well observed that 'soil is to them 

 a something to keep them stationary, rather than a source of nutriment,' which is 

 obtained chiefly from the surrounding atmosphere. For not only does the peculiar 

 structure of their cuticle enable them to retain for a lengthened period their fluid 

 contents ; but they appear to possess the faculty of absorbing, through its agency, 

 the heavy dews, by which, in tropical climates, the absence of the rain of more 

 temperate regions, is supplied. 



HARDY PERENNIALS. 



The practice now so extensively adopted of filling entire compartments of the 

 flower garden, during summer, with plants not long since regarded as occupants of 

 the greenhouse exclusively, has no doubt imparted to the parterre a brilliancy not 

 hitherto attainable. 



"We have no objections to urge against planting in masses, or as it is usually 

 termed the ' bedding' system ; on the contrary, wc freely admit that very striking 

 effects are thus produced, ami where the extent of ground permits it, wc sec no 



