THE HOUSE-LEEK FAMILY. 273 



freely produced, especially when the terminal leader or growth 

 is purposely destroyed, or the top of the plant removed. The 

 following are the principal genera : Crassula, Rochea, Kalanchoe, 

 Bryophyllum, Cotyledon, Umbilicus, Echeveria, Pachyphytum, 

 Sedum, Rhodiola, and Sempervivum. There is just now a de- 

 cided revival of public taste in favour of these ,and other succu- 

 lents. Echeverias have become very popular in carpet-bedding 

 and other flower-garden arrangements, and numerous hybrids 

 have been raised by English and Continental cultivators, of 

 which more anon. Crassulaceous plants, like most other suc- 

 culents, are easily grafted ; and I have seen Sempervivum arbo- 

 reum used as a stock for some of the dwarf kinds. Echeveria 

 coccinea also forms a good stock for dwarf-growing Echeverias 

 or Pachyphytums. Some of the smaller-growing and scandent 

 Crassulas take well to C. portulacea as a stock ; and plants so 

 worked form very interesting pot-plants for decorative purposes, 

 and attract attention when they would be overlooked on their 

 own roots. Practically, however, the operation leads to no 

 other useful result. 



Echeveria. A very distinct and ornamental genus of suc- 

 culent plants, having fleshy bluish-green or glaucous leaves ar- 

 ranged in a rosulate or rosette-shaped manner. Nearly all the 

 species are Mexican, and may be increased by offsets or by 

 leaf-cuttings that is, the old leaves stripped off and inserted in 

 sandy soil or brick-dust. Seeds are very freely borne by well- 

 established plants, and the species interbreed freely. Sow the 

 seed as soon as ripe in pans of light sandy earth, and place 

 them on a gentle bottom-heat until the young plants appear, 

 after which place them on a dry sunny shelf near the light. 

 E. pulverulenta, E. formosa, E. gibbiflora, var. metallica, E. aga- 

 voides, and E. retusa, are common in gardens, and very distinct ; 

 and if these were carefully hybridised with each other and with 

 Pachyphytum, Rochea, and other sections of the order, some very 

 useful races of decorative plants would doubtless be the inter- 

 esting result. 



Several of the finest hybrids between Echeveria and Pachy- 

 phytum have been raised within the last few years in Con- 

 tinental gardens. 



E. pachyphytoides is like a strong - growing Pachyphytum 

 bracteosum, but the leaves are flatter; and another seminal 

 form from the same cross, E. p. rosea, is similar in character, 

 but the leaves are more pointed, and show more of the glossy 

 rosy hue of the Echeveria. 



E. glauca-metallica is, as its name implies, a cross between 



s 



