AND CONSERVATORY. 213 



bottom-lioat will be required, but after March the cuttings 

 will strike without heat. The first season of growth from the 

 cutting-pans keep the plants in three-inch pots, and allow them 

 to grow as they please. They may be put out of doors till 

 the end of September, and must then be housed. The next 

 spring shift the stock of Sieboldi into pots one size larger, and 

 that of Spectabile into two sizes larger, and in these sizes 

 they will flower nicely. The flower-buds appear some time 

 in advance of the flowers, but when at last these open, in the 

 month of September, their lively rosy pink hue and sym- 

 metrical disposition are remarkably beautiful, and contrast 

 chastely and cheerfully with the peculiar tint of the leafage. 

 After the blooms have faded the stems die down, and are 

 immediately succeeded by a new growth from the root, and 

 thus, if encouraged by good culture, a specimen of either 

 species will become larger and lai'ger every year, and may be 

 grown ultimately to colossal dimensions. Both require a 

 rich light soil, and the best compost for specimens is as fol- 

 lows. Turfy loam two parts, rotten dung one part, bricks 

 broken to the size of hazel nuts one part, sharp sand one 

 part. In this mixture they should be potted firmly, and 

 in spring, when the new growth is beginning to advance, the 

 plants should be shaken out, a considerable portion of the soil 

 removed from the roots, and be repotted in pots one or two 

 sizes larger than the last. They require to be always exposed 

 to the full daylight without shading at any season, to have 

 abundance of water from April to August, and at other times 

 to be kept merely moist enough to prevent flagging. "When 

 too large the roots may be divided. 



Sempertitum. — These must have a prominent place in a 

 small collection of succulents, because of their bold and dis- 

 tinct characteristics. The best of the large-growing species are 

 S. glutinosum, S. ciineatum, S. canescens, T. canariensis, S. 

 S. arboreum, S. arhoremn atro-jmiyureum, a fine variety with 

 deep bronzy leaves, S. palma, a noble kind with a table-like 

 head supported on a thick stem about two inches in diameter, 

 and S. tabu](efor?ne with its table-like top supported on a stout 

 stem varying in height according to age, instead of resting on 

 the top of the pot. S. hmcteosum is distinct from all the other 

 kinds, and one of the freest growers in the whole family, as a 

 huge specimen two or three feet in height and as much in dia- 



