438 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS cotyledon 



seeds sown as soon as ripe under glass 

 protection and in finely sifted soil. The 

 more usual way, however, is to detach 

 the offsets, which are freely produced, 

 and insert them either in the open border 

 until the end of autvimn or in shallow 

 boxes in sandy soil. In the case of Eche- 

 veria sectmda glauca, offsets can be in- 

 duced to form freely by cutting off the 

 chief rosette of leaves, leaving the thick 

 fleshy stems in the soil. In a short time 

 all round the edge of the cut stems offsets 

 will be produced and may be taken off 

 and inserted in shallow boxes. The chief 

 rosette if simply placed on the soil will 

 in the meantime have taken root and 

 begun to produce offsets as well. A shady 

 border is the best place for carrying out 

 these operations in July and August. 



"Where offsets are not readily produced 

 each leaf (which, however, should be pretty 

 well mature) may be slightly stuck into 

 dry sand in pans or boxes. After a short 

 time small plants will develop from the 

 base of the leaves, and then they should 

 be gently watered and grown on untU 

 large enough to put into pots singly or 

 several in boxes or pans. 



Seeds are freely ripened and may be 

 sown in autumn or spring in cold frames, 

 or in gentle heat in hght and rich sandy 

 soil. When the seedhiigs are old enough 

 they may be pricked out a couple of inches 

 apart, and when fully grown are available 

 for the outdoor garden. 



These plants, although not proof against 

 hard frost, will stand the winter well in 

 a cold airy frame, and can easily be pro- 

 tected from severe weather by mats. 



The Cotyledons and Echeverias are 

 chiefly used for edging flower borders 

 from early summer till the end of 

 autumn. 



C. metallica (Echeveria). — A beautiful 

 Mexican succulent plapt, 1-2 ft. or more 

 high, with a large rosette of broad obovate 

 spoon-shaped leaves 6 in. or more across 

 and of a beautiful purplish glaucous metallic 

 hue. Flowers in summer, yellow, tipped 

 with red, 30-60 in a loose clustered 

 panicle. 



CiMure Ac. as above. 



C. secunda (Eclieveria). — A beautiful 

 edging plant, native of Mexico. Leaves 

 in rosettes 3-5 in. wide, wedge-shaped, 

 glaucous. Flowers during summer, red 

 and yellow, on long curved stalks, very 

 beautiful. The variety glauca has bluish- 



white leaves ; glauca major is a large- 

 leaved form ; and ramoaa is a monstrosity 

 with aflat stem covered with small, green, 

 abortive leaves. 



Culture (ic. as above. 



C. Sempervivum (Umbilicus Semper- 

 vivum). — A pretty hardy species 4r-6 in. 

 high, with rosettes of ovate, dull green 

 leaves tinged with brown. Flowers in 

 August and September, deep red. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



C. spinosa (Sempervi/BV/m, spi/nosum). 

 A hardy Asiatic species about 1 ft. high. 

 Lower leaves in rosettes, spoon-shaped, 

 becoming lance-shaped and flattish up- 

 wards. Flowers in June, yellow. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



C. Umbilicus. — A hardy British plant 

 about 6 in. high. Lower leaves shield- 

 like, roundish, crenated. Flowers in 

 June, yellow. Useful for the roek garden 

 or hardy fernery. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



SEDUM (Stonecrop ; Oepine). — A 

 genus containing about 120 species of suc- 

 culent, usually prostrate, annual or peren- 

 nial herbs, sometimes tufted or mossy, 

 with alternate opposite and whorled 

 leaves, entire or serrate, rarely laciniated. 

 Flowers in cymes, hermaphrodite, or 

 1-sexed by abortion. Calyx 4-5-lobed. 

 Petals 4-5 (rarely 6-7), free. Stamens 

 8-10 (rarely 12-14), perigynous. Carpels 

 4-5, free or rarely united at the base. 



Culture and Propagation. — Sedums 

 thrive in almost any soil and in any 

 situation. The dwarf mossy kinds are 

 at home on rockwork, old walls, ruins, as 

 well as in the border as edgings, or raised 

 mounds. They are easily increased by 

 seeds, cuttings, or division, new plants 

 arising from the tiniest morsels of some 

 of the plants when put on moist soil in a 

 shady place, either in early autumn or in 

 mild weather in spring. 



For garden purposes it is unnecessary 

 to describe the whole 120 species, but the 

 following win be found a good selection. 



S. acre (Wall Pepper). — A smooth 

 British evergreen 2-4 in. high, with small, 

 thick, alternate, stalkless leaves, ovate or 

 nearly round. Flowers in early summer, 

 yellow. Aureum is a fine variety with 

 bright golden-yellow leaves in spring, but 

 not quite so hardy as the type ; clegans is 

 a silvery-leaved, delicate form ; and majus 



