ICE PLANT. 153 



ICE PLANT. 



(MESEMBRYANTHEMUM CRYSTALLINUM.) 



" Chaste as the icicle ' 



That's curdled by the frost from purest snow, 

 And hangs on Diana's temple." 



This is a singular plant, and is much esteemed by the 

 ladies. It is a deciduous trailer, with large oval leaves, 

 acute, frosted, three nerves beneath. The root is biennial, 

 and is generally cultivated as an annual for the parlor. It 

 does best in the open ground where it will cover a large 

 space, but should be potted in the fall and brought into the 

 house, as it will not stand the winter in the open ground. 

 When the sun shines on this plant, it appears to be covered 

 with ice, and to the eye is both brilliant and novel. The 

 pellucid studs surrounding the stern in the summer appear- 

 ing like ice, gives the plant all the novelty desirable for 

 the culture of ladies ; besides it is a plant requiring but 

 little attention. It will grow in any garden soil, and in 

 almost any situation, requiring but little attention after the 

 seeds are sown in the spring. A full exposure to the 

 sun is best, as it displays its beauty more perceptibly. 

 When the young plants have formed four leaves, trans- 

 plant them separately into two inch pots, and, as the plant 

 increases, shift them into one of four inch, or plant them 

 into the open ground. If for pot culture, make a trellis 

 of some sticks for the plant to be fastened to. The flow- 



