314 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEXIXG. 



designs — -the small-gTowing Idnds being every way 

 excellent for this pm-pose, and harmonising well 

 with Alternantheras, green, gxey, and golden Sedums 

 and Saxifragas, Anttnuaria fomcidosa, and raoderately 

 so with Gold Feather Pyrethrum. Occasionally 

 we have arranged the outer portion of a succulent 

 hed in carpet bedding stjde, using the brightest 

 Alternantheras, kc, but dotting, in the carpeting 

 plants, more than the usual number of small succu- 

 lents, thus, as it were, leading gently up to the 

 .-^ombre succulent mixture. This marginal bright 

 band arrangement to succulent beds, meets with the 

 approval of the majority of ^-isitors ; but personally 

 we prefer the more lasting beauty produced by using 

 succulents only in the same bed. 



These examples will sufficiently illustrate modes of 

 arrangement. Of course the style is only adaptable 

 to large gardens, where every description of bedding 

 out is required to be done, and that have convenience 

 for raising and wintering the plants. Flowers will 

 be, and ought ever to be, preferred for small gardens, 

 but those having large gardens should certainly 

 have some portion of them planted in succulent 

 style. 



List of Plants available for succulent bed- 

 ding, together with, those that make appropriate 

 ground- works for the same. These last we place 

 first ; they are — Anteunaria toimntoHa, Ccrastuon ar- 

 ve)isc, Echevcria, all the small-growing kinds; Her- 

 niaria glabra, Kleinla rcpens, Leptinella scariosa, Jlesem- 

 hr)jant]ici)U()n cordifoIia/)i rariegatioiu ^J^. coitspicuiou, 

 SedH/u gJancum, S. Lydiurn, S. corsic/on, S. acre eJega)is 

 rarkgatum, Sempervicion mo)tta)uim , S. Itlrti'.m, S. taha- 

 liforme, Saxifraga Aizoon, S. rosularis, S. hirta, 8. 

 pectinata, and Veronica rupestris. 



The best tall and large-foliaged kinds are — Agave 

 americnna and A. americana variegata, Cotyledon 

 pulveridenta, C. tomentosa, Echeveria mctaUica, B. 

 gJauca metaUica, E. agarcoides, Xhinia tomentosa. 

 Fachyphytnm hracteosnm, P. Hool-eril. St/nperrino// 

 arhoreum, S. arhoreum variegatum, S. sanguineun}, S. 

 canariense, S. Hendersonii, S. phylloides, S. Haicortliii, 

 Yvcca aloefolla variegata, Y. filamentosa, Y. reciirva, 

 and Y. gloriosa. 



Propagation and General Culture. — 



Nearly all the kinds enumerated throw offsets freely 

 from the base of the plants during the summer: 

 these may be taken off at any time, and be inserted 

 in pots or cutting-pans in an open sandy soil, and if 

 put on a shelf in an intermediate temperatui'e, with 

 full exposure to the sun, they wiU quickly make 

 root. Kinds that do not throw offsets freely are 

 represented by Echererla rnctaHica and Sempcrrivum 

 arborewn varicgatura ; the latter strikes fi'eely from 



cuttings, and the Ethcvcria from leaves. The cut- 

 tings require exactly the same treatment and tempe- 

 rature to strike as do the offsets, but the leaves of 

 Echeveria should have a stronger heat. The mode 

 of layering these on the pans of open soil is as 

 follows : — The midrib of the leaf having been par- 

 tially cut in several places, the bottom part should 

 be put in the soil, then the whole leaf be pegged on 

 the soil, especially taking care that the midrib is 

 bedded in it, as it is from this that the plant will be 

 formed. Keep nicely moist, but not saturated. 

 This mode of striking is rather a slow one, 

 but sure, and one leaf will frequently throw as 

 many as nine plants. Fachyphytnm hracteosnm and 

 Echeveria Feacockii may also be increased in the same 

 way. 



All the small kinds throw offsets freely, and the 

 hardier ones winter safely on a dry stmny bank, 

 in which position they may be planted when first 

 taken off. If large plants are desired, the old ones 

 should be lifted before severe frost occurs, though, 

 as a rule, early-propagated young stock will be 

 foimd to get sufficiently large by the following 

 season's planting-time, and the extra healthy ap- 

 pearance of such yovmg stock will far outweigh 

 any advantage to be derived from the larger old 

 plants. 



But few words are necessary as to culture. Succu- 

 lents all prefer a light, open, and sandy soil, and 

 abundance of di\ainage, and to be kept on the dry 

 side as to watering at all times, but particidarly 

 duiing the winter. The beds in which they are to 

 be planted should have the soil prepared on the same 

 principle — that is, plenty of drainage, and if at aU 

 heavy, charcoal, brick, and mortar rubble may be 

 intermixed with it. The only labour required after 

 the plants are put out, is the keeping of the groimd- 

 work plants in position, and the flowers picked off' 

 those kinds that produce them, which is virtually no 

 labour at all. The attention required by succulents 

 is thus in singular contrast to that needed by every 

 other branch of bedding-out. 



THE EOSE A]S"D ITS CULTURE. 



By D. T. Fish. 



THE FLAIsTIXG OF ROSES. 



THE process of planting naturally divides itself 

 into the time, place, and mode of planting. 

 The question of what Eoses to plant will receive 

 separate treatment. That every one having a yard 

 of gi'ound to spare will desire to plant one or more 

 roses in it is talren for granted, for a garden without 



