SUCCULENT PLANTS. 



95 



are often at a loss for vegetable food. Plants whose 

 leaves have turned into thorns are ver^■ common in these 

 regions. The\' have green stems which perform the 

 function of the leaves, and these are often swollen to 

 act as a reser\oir. For water must be stored as a pro- 

 vision against drought. Horses, when pressed bA' hunger 

 and thir.st, strike off the thorns of these plants with 

 their hoofs. The^■ are then able to get at the juic^- sub- 

 stance without injury to themselves; but cattle are often 

 badly hurt in the attempt. Mortola Gardens are remark- 

 abh' rich in these succulent plants. Of the kno^^'u spe- 

 cies of Aloes about half (sevent\) are cultivated here : 

 there are also sixt\' different Agaves. Most 

 of tliese blossom in spring, while 

 Cactus and Opuntia do not open 

 their silkv flowers till June. 

 We could wish that man\' of 

 the plants" which adorn the 

 jarden in the summer with their 

 ga^' colours might blossom at 

 an earlier season. For the 

 magnificent Fr\ thrinas, ITe- 

 dichiums, Musas, v'ltrelitzias 

 and Slcrculia acerifolia, the 

 'Flame Tree" of Australia, all flower here 

 when there is no one to admire their 

 beauty-. It would indeed be worth while to 

 pa\' a visit to La Mortola at this season! 

 A very curious tree, which attracts the 

 saiviifoihis. attention of most visitors to the 



