188 General JVotices. 



earth of an open border, immediately after their arrival from a fif- 

 teen months' voyage, every hulb of which would have jirown, had 

 he known what we have now stated. {Gard. Chron., 1842, ]>. 3.)^ 

 [These hints cannot be too stronuly in[)ressed ujion the mind of 

 every cultivator of plants, particularly of Inilhs. Many fine collec- 

 tions of bulhs have been received here from the Cape of Good 

 Hope, but they have been lost from the same cause as that men- 

 tioned above — want of a proper knowledtre of their treatment. The 

 same principle even holds good with other plants: how often do we 

 see gardeners and amateurs plunge a tree or plant which has been 

 out of the ground some weeks into a tub of water, and there let it 

 remain for days, rather than place it immediately in a rather dry soil 

 that its roots may gradually absorb moisture, without danger of their 

 being destroyed by a superabundance of water. We must urge our 

 cultivators to read the above attentively, and bear in mind the sound 

 practice recommended, whenever they may receive bulbs or plants 

 that have been long out of ground, and are in a dry state. — Ed.] 



On the growth of succulent plants. — To be grown well, the whole 

 race of what are termed succulent plants requires to be kept in the 

 lightest possible situation in the green-house. It is true they may be 

 grown in heavy shaded green-houses, but their leaves will never ac- 

 quire that beautiful color which is seen in light situations, nor will 

 they flower so freely. The coloring matter in the leaves of some of 

 the plants, the Echeverm gilliflora for example, is delicate and beau- 

 tiful; but this is never seen in perfection unless a light situation is 

 attended to. 



In an extensive family of this kind, it is difficult to point out the 

 proper soil which ought to be used, as some of the species require it 

 much richer than others. I have generally found the free grow- 

 ing kinds of alba, Crassula, mesembryanthemum, and plants of 

 like habit, do best in a rich free soil, such as equal portions of light 

 sandy loam, and peat or leaf mould, with a small quantity of bruised 

 bricks. For the free growing Cacti, such as Cereus speciosissimus, 

 the soil ought to be made lighter and richer, by using less loam and 

 more peat, leaf mould, and dung: but for the slow growing mam- 

 millarias, and the very succulent mesembryantheniunis, such as M. 

 tigrinum, it is best to use about one third light loam, one of peat or 

 leaf mould, and one of bruised bricks and some rubbish. As a gen- 

 eral rule, to which, I believe, very few excejjtions will be found, I 

 would advise all persons not acquainted with the ])articular habits of 

 these plants, to use soil richer or poorer, according to the quantity of 

 roots which they produce, at the same time taking care that the poor 

 soil is also loose and open, to prevent the plants from damping. In 

 every case, the pots must be well drained. T'he best season for 

 shifting is the month of February or March. Once a year will, in 

 general, be quite sufficient for the free growing kinds; and, although 

 many of the others will not require it so often, yet it will be foinid 

 the best plan to go over the whole at this time, examining the roots, 

 and adding a little fresh soil, taking care not to pot them too deep, 

 nor to overpot them, as they are safest in s-mall pots. 



Water should be given to the slow growing kinds at all times with 

 a gradual hand, but particularly during winter, as more plants are 



