52 ECHETEIilA EETTJSA. 



which is not only one of the most recently introduced, but also, we think, 

 one of the handsomest species. 



In its general habit, the E. return agrees with the other members of the genus, 

 but the radical leaves are neither so regular in their form, nor arranged in so 

 perfectly rosette-like a manner, as in secunda and most others. When young, they 

 are acute, but become ultimately extremely blunt and irregularly scolloped or 

 crenate, and bordered with brownish-purlpe 



The flower stem, which is also stained with purple, but of a brighter tint, grows 

 from a foot to eighteen inches high, the blossoms being produced at its summit 

 in a dense, drooping, branched panicle, which becomes gradually more erect as 

 the flowers develop themselves. These are externally of a rich crimson-scarlet 

 colour, covered with a delicate bloom, and internally if an orange-yellow ; they 

 continue expanded some days before fading, and as strong plants will produce 

 several flowering stems, a succession of blossoms is maintained for two or three 

 months in winter, a season when flowers of much inferior interest to \X\aE. return, 

 are generally highly valued. 



Its cultivation is of the simplest character ; sandy loam, enriched with a little 

 leaf mould, or even sandy loam by itself, if not of too sterile a nature, will be found 

 sufficient for its requirements ; it is hardly necessary to state that the pots should 

 be well drained to one-third of their dcptli at least, for this is an indispensable 

 condition to success in the treatment of succulents. 



It may be more important to observe that the flowers of the Echeveria retusa 

 being produced in winter, it will require more water at that period than those 

 species which flower in summer and autumn ; during its period of growth, which 

 succeeds that of blossoming, it may also be kept in a moderately moist condition ; 

 but after this is completed, which will occur about the end of July, water should 

 be withheld, and to facilitate the ripening process, the plant may then be stationed 

 out of doors in a sunny corner, for a month or six weeks at least, but must be 

 protected from rain, though slight showers will do no harm. This exposition will 

 be but a poor imitation of the dry season of the tropics, but it will at any rate be 

 more conducive to the production of flowers, than a permanent occupation of the 

 window. If the plant be then removed about the middle of September to the 

 sitting room, and cautiously watered, it will hardly fail, after the lapse of a few 

 weeks, to throw up its flower-stems. 



Increase is easily effected, either by the offsets, which may be severed and treated 

 as cuttings, or by the stem-leaves, which are readily detached, and will root freely 

 if, after being dried for a day or two, they are pressed into a pot of sandy soil. 

 The leaves of some of the species will throw out fibres from the back if simply 

 laid on the soil, as in the case of the Gloxinia, and other plants ; and it is to be 

 presumed that those of retusa will root in a similar manner. Flowering plants are, 



