SUCCULENT PLANTS. 



617 



color, 0. Engelmanni, 0. fragilis (brachyarthra is 

 a variety of this), 0. humilis, 0. Picolominiana, 

 0. polyacantha (missouriensis), 0. Eafinesquii, 0. 

 rhodantha, 0. vulgaris, 0. xanthostema. 



Selection of the most useful and best-known 

 Succulent Plants: — 



Agave (fig. 745). — An extensive genus, chiefly Mexi- 

 can, containing many very ornamental plants adapted for 

 conservatory and outdoor decoration, and also for terraces. 

 The old American Aloe (A. americana) is well known, and 



its varieties, variegata and medio-picta, should be amongst 

 the first for large houses. They contrast well with, and 

 retain their individuality in, the vicinity of masonry and 

 statuary. All Agaves require to be kept moderately dry 

 and safe from frost during winter. The best soil is loam, 

 sand, and rotten manure. Large plants should be re- 

 potted in May, when the old roots can be cut entirely 

 away, and the plant merely set on the new soil, when it 

 will soon make new roots. 



Most of the species flower once and then perish. 

 Under cultivation, especially in pots, they take many 

 years to arrive at the flowering stage. A few flower 

 almost annually. Some, such as A. americana, send up 

 tall, pole-like spikes 20 to 30 feet high. 



The best large sorts, with rosettes of leaves from 6 to 

 15 feet wide and 4 to 8 feet high, are: — A. americana 

 medio-picta, A. americana variegata, A. atrovirens, A. 

 attenuata, A. Hookerii, A. horrida, A. macracantha, A. 

 miradorensis, A. potatorum, A. rigida, and A. striata. 



Medium-sized plants, of 2 to 4 feet spread, and 2 to 3 

 feet high: — A. applanata, A. dasylirioides, A. filifera, 

 A. Ghiesbreghtii, A. hystrix, A. lurida, A. schidigera, A. 

 Sisalana, and A. Vcrschaffeltii. 



Small compact plants, of from 1 to 2 feet spread, and 



1 to 2 feet high; dense-growing: — A. albicans, A. Beau- 

 carnei, A. Bessereriana, A. geminiflora, A. mitis. A. 

 Richardsii, A. Scolymus, A. striata, A. Victoria regvnoe, 

 and A. Wislizeni. 



Aloe.— African plants, some of the arborescent forms 

 of which are ornamental both in leaf and flower. They 

 should be grown in pots in sandy loam. A. cilw.ris is a 

 useful greenhouse climber. Most of the species have 

 showy flowers, produced in autumn and winter. The 

 old partridge - breast Aloe, A. variegata, is often seen 

 better grown in a cottage window than in a conserva- 

 tory, because in the former case it is kept for a long time 

 in the same pot, which all Aloes like. Some of the 

 smaller species have prettily mottled or striped foliage, 

 and their flowers, produced on slender, often branching, 

 spikes, are always attractive. 



The best for large houses are the following ; they grow 

 from 6 to 15 feet high, with a spread of foliage of 3 to 5 

 feet: — A. abyssinica, A. africana, A. arborcscens, A. 

 Bainesii, A. ccesia, A. ferox, and A. supralcevis. When 

 they get 1 too high the top can be cut off at whatever 

 height may be chosen, and put into dry soil, in which, 

 if kept quite dry, it will soon root. This should be done 

 in spring. 



Medium-sized, height 2 to 5 feet: — A. albocincta, A. 

 Cooper i, A. grandidentata, A. Greenii, A. lineata, A. 

 Lynchii, A. mitreeformis, A. saponaria, A. soccotrina, A. 

 spimdosa, A. striata, A. tricolor, and A. vulgaris. 



Dwarf, height 6 to 20 inches: — A. humilis, A.prolifera, 

 A. Rebuti, A. serra, A. semdata, A. somaliensis, and A. 

 variegata. 



The following do very well in the open air in summer: 

 — A. arborescens, A. fruticosa, A. serra, and A. vulgaris. 



Cere us. — A large and important genus of Cacti, the 

 species of which may be divided into three groups, 

 namely, climbers, tall erect growers, and moderate-sized 

 erect growers. The climbers produce the largest flowers, 

 and generally require a stove to bring them to perfection. 

 In large conservatories a group of the tall species on a 

 raised position has a good effect. The flowers nearly 

 always open in the evening, and close the next day. 



Climbers: — C. fidgidus, C. grandiflorus, C. Lemairii, 

 C. MacDonaldice, C. Napoleonis, C. nycticalus, and C. tri- 

 angularis. 



Thin-stemmed or trailers; good for baskets: — C. Ber- 

 landieri, C. Blanlii, C. flagelliformis, C. MaUisoni, and 

 C. procumbens. 



Tall erect growers, 10 to 40 feet high : — C. geometrizans, 

 C. giganteus, C. glaucus, C. Jamacaru, C. lividus, C. nobilis, 

 C. peruvianus, and C. Sargentianus. 



Moderate erect growers, 3 to 10 feet high: — C. chilensis, 

 C. eburneus, C. euphorbioides, C. gladiatus, C. multangu- 

 lar is, C. repandus, and C. strigosus. 



Dwarf species, less than a foot high: — C. ctfsjyitosus, 

 C. ctenoides, C. enneacanthus, C. Leeanus, C. multiplex, 

 and C poly acanthus. 



Cotyledon, including Echcveria. — Ci-assulaeeous 

 plants from the Cape of Good Hope. They are grown 

 chiefly for bedding purposes. Some of them are worth 

 growing in pots for the conservatoiy. The best of these 

 are: — C. agavoidcs {Corderoyi), C. dasyphylla. C. gibbi- 

 flora, C. metallica, C. orbiculata, C. ovata. C. Pachyphyton, 

 C. pulverulenta, and C. secunda. (Fig. 746.) 



Crassula. — Not many plants of this large genus are 

 grown in gardens. A few are useful and ornamental for 

 winter flowering in conservatories. They all grow very 

 easily in a mixture of sandy loam and leaf- soil, and in- 

 crease by cuttings freely. 



