Succulents 



CHAPTER XIII. 



SUCCULENTS. 



THE Succulents include many very handsome and interest- 

 ing plants, extremely varied in their character, most of 

 them having thick fleshy leaves or stems. Many are useful 

 for planting in dry sandy or rocky banks, and for covering, with 

 gay colors and interesting foliage, poor spots of dry soil which are 

 out of reach of water or too barren to sustain any other class of 

 plant. Among the large number which are perfectly hardy and 

 very ornamental are many of the Cactus, Agave and the large 

 family of Mesembryanthemum and Portulaca, also the gorgeous 

 free-flowering Crassula, etc. 



Collections of Succulents should be planted in the dryest and 

 best-sheltered portions of the garden. They should be watered 

 very sparingly during only very dry weather, and even then only 

 when the plants show signs of flagging or wilting. The soil best 

 suited for most of them is a dry, rocky, well-drained, loose, light 

 loam such as is used in rockeries, for growing in which most of 

 the Succulents are admirably adapted. 



AGAVE (Century Plant). 



This common inhabitant of our gardens is one of the most 

 stately and characteristic of our California garden landscape 

 plants, its massive fleshy foliage, when full-grown, making a fine 

 effect in the sub-tropical gardens, and being excellent for large 

 vase-work in front of buildings or the decoration of terrace walks, 

 etc. It is a very slow grower, not attaining its full growth until 

 fifteen or twenty years old, when (and not until then) it sends 

 up its tall column-like flower-scape to the height of from thirty- 

 five to forty feet, or more, with a diameter of stem of over six 



