248 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



covered with, large waterj' pustules or "blisters, which, 

 glisten in the sun as if frozen into ice. This pro- 

 duces a very cool and refreshing effect, and hence 

 the plant is extensively grown for garnishing pur- 



Amongst the numerous species of this family may 

 be found plants to suit the tastes of all lovers of 

 nature ; thus, those who love bright and showy 

 flowers can here indulge their fancy ; again, those 

 whose chief delight is the tasteful arrangement of 

 the geometrical beds in the parterre can here find 

 numerous species admirably adapted to their wants, 

 if no other situation for their culture is available 



water sparingly ; in winter little or none is neces- 

 sary. At this season the atmosphere must be kept 

 free from damp, and at all times expose them to the 

 full benefit of sim and light, with abundance of air. 

 The following list contains some of the most beauti- 

 ful and curious species : — 



M. albidum. 



M. barbatum, 



M-. blanduin. 



M. calamiforme. 



M. caudens. 



M. caninum. 



M. caulescens. 



M. cordifolium variegatum. 



M. conspicuum. 



M. curvifl-onxm. 



M. imbricans. 

 M. latum. 

 M. liugiiaBforme. 

 M. lupinum. 

 M. maxiiuiun. 

 M. minimum. 

 M. murinum. 

 M. mustellimim. 

 M. nuciforme. 

 il. obcordellum. 



MESEMBRTANTHEMUM MlN-iMtJM. 



but the cottage window, Mesembryanthemums will 

 adapt themselves to the circumstances, and bloom as 

 freely as if situated in the best- constructed green- 

 house ; whilst those who delight in the curious can 

 here find structural grace and beauty ad libitum, for 

 amongst the smaller-growing kinds we have leaves 

 resembling the mouths of wolf, tiger, leopard, fox, 

 dog, cat, weasel, and mouse ; then there are long 

 tongues, blunt tongues, great tongues, and soft 

 tongues ; club leaves, hatchet leaves, and finger 

 leaves ; bulls' horns, herons' beaks, and hedgehogs ; 

 white eyes, and golden eyes, and a host of other ex- 

 traordinary forms too numerous to mention in the 

 limits of this article. 



The cultivation of Mesembryanthemums is of the 

 simplest. • As before mentioned, they delight in dry, 

 arid situations, and this knowledge should give the 

 cultivator the key to theii' management. For soil 

 use light sandy loam and old brick rubbish, broken 

 tolerablyzsmall ; drain well, and during the summer 



M. crystallinum. 

 M. densum. 

 M. digitiforme. 

 M. dolabriforme. 

 M. echinatum. 

 M. emarginatum. 

 M. falcatum. 

 M. felinum. 

 M. fibuliforme. 

 M. fissum. 

 M formosum. 

 M. geminatum. 

 M. glaucum. 

 M. grandiflorum. 

 M. Haworthii. 



M. octopliyllum. 

 M. polyantlium. 

 M. prsepingue. 

 M. reflexum. 

 M. retroflexum. 

 M. roseum. 

 M. rostratum. 

 M. rubricaule. 

 M. scalptratum. 

 M. spectabile. 

 M. stillatum. 

 M. taurinum. 

 M. tigrimim. 

 M. uvse forme. 

 M. vulpinum. 



Mitraria {M. coccinea). — The only known species 

 of the genus, which belongs to the Gesnerads. It is 

 a very handsome plant, requiring the warmest end 

 of the green-house, and should be potted in equal 

 parts of peat and loam, and about an eighth part 

 of sharp sand. The plant is dwarf and compact 

 in habit, with small, closely-set leaves, which are 

 usually opposite and deep green. The flowers are 

 borne singly on long pedicles, and are tubular, 



