MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 245 



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

 sunshine, appear sprinkled with gold-dust: they blow 

 very abundantly in June. Most of the species have pur- 

 ple 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 

 roots, and, if necessary, remove them into larger pots ; but 

 they should be always kept in as small pots as possible, 

 particularly those of the more succulent kind. 



They should generally be housed in September, and 

 placed abroad in May, in a sheltered, warm, sunny situ- 

 ation. In very wet weather, the most succulent kinds 

 should be screened from it. 



This is a handsome and admired genus, and compre- 

 hends a great variety. They are chiefly natives of the 

 Cape. Few green-houses, however small, are without the 

 Ice-plant ; which is also, from its glittering surface, called 

 the Diamond-plant, Diamond-ficoides, and Spangled-beau : 



" Geranium boasts 



Her crimson honours, and the spangled beau, 



Ficoides, glitters bright the winter long. 



All plants of every leaf, that can endure 



The winter's frown, if screened from his shrewd bite, 



Live there and prosper." 



COATTEK. 



