278 FLORA BOMESTICA. 



flowers in July : the flowers are always expanded, and very 

 handsome. 



M. Decumbens from May to October ; M. Glomeratum 

 from June to July ; and M. Falciforme from July to 

 August ; are very full of blossom. The flowers of M. Cau- 

 lescens smell like new hay : this flowers in May. 



These plants should be housed in the winter, and care- 

 fully sheltered from the frost ; but fresh air must always 

 be allowed them in mild weather. They are very succu- 

 lent, and must have but just water enough to keep them 

 alive : the less moisture is given them, the better they will 

 bear the winter cold. 



M. Lacerum is more tender than most of the genus, and 

 must therefore be sooner housed, and set further from the 

 windows when open, in the winter. The flowers of this 

 kind are of a pale rose-colour, large and showy, and do not 

 close at night. It flowers in June. 



M. Tenuifolium has pale red flowers ; which, in the sun- 

 shine, appear sprinkled with gold-dust : they blow very 

 abundantly in June. Most of the species have purple or 

 yellow flowers. 



It may be observed, as a general rule, to water the 

 shrubby kinds twice, the more succulent, once a week, 

 during the summer ; but towards the end of autumn, it 

 must be given less frequently : once a week to the shrubby 

 kinds, when the weather is not frosty ; and in severe wea- 

 ther, the succulent should have no more water than just to 

 prevent their leaves from shrivelling. 



They are best raised by a gardener. The pots should 

 be frequently examined at the bottom, to see if the roots 

 run through ; in which case they must be cut off. Those 

 perennial kinds which grow pretty fast should be shifted 

 once or twice in the course of the summer, to pare off their 



