May.'} GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING PLANTS. 277 



character, have been divided into several genera. These 

 are, Gasteria, Pachidendron, Riphidodendron, Howar- 

 thia, and Jlpicra : of these there are about two hundred 

 species and varieties; to enter into any specific detail 

 would be beyond our limits, especially with a tribe of 

 plants that as yet have but a few patrons. (Soil No. 10.) 



Chamxrops. There are about seven species of these 

 palms : four of them belong to this department, and are the 

 finest of those that will keep in the green-house. They all 

 have large palmated fronds, and require large pots or tubs 

 to make them grow freely, and are tenacious of life if kept 

 from frost. 



Gardenia. This is an esteemed genus of plants, espe- 

 cially for the double flowering varieties, which are highly 

 odoriferous, and have an evergreen shining foliage. G. 

 flbrida flore plena, Cape Jasmine, is a plant universally 

 known in our collections, and trees of it are frequently seen 

 above seven feet high, and five feet in diameter, blooming 

 from June to October. G. rddicans, dwarf Cape Jasmine, 

 G. longifolia, G. multiflbra, and G. latifolia, are also in 

 several collections, but not so generally known ; the flowers 

 are double, and all equally fragrant. We are inclined to 

 think they are only varieties of G.florida, of which multi- 

 flora is one of the finest. Any of the above will keep in 

 the coldest part of the green-house, and even under the 

 front of the stage is a good situation for them, where the 

 house is otherwise crowded during winter. They must 

 be sparingly watered from November to March. Much 

 water, while they are dormant, gives the foliage a sickly 

 tinge, a state in whjch they are too frequently seen. G. 

 rothmannia and G. Thunbergia are fine plants, but 

 seldom flower ; the flowers of the former are spotted, and 

 are most fragrant during night. (Soil No. 10.) 



Mesembryanthemum, a very extensive genus, contain- 

 ing upward of four hundred and fifty species and varieties, 

 with few exceptions, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 They are all singular, many of them beautiful, and some 

 splendid ; yet they have never been popular plants in our 

 collections. The leaves are almost of every shape and 

 form ; their habits vary in appearance. Some of them are 

 straggling, others are insignificant, and a few grotesque 

 When they are well grown, they flower in great profusion ; 

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