184 



THE SL'CCULEXT HOUSE. 



its progress by amputating the branch upon which it appears before the 

 disease has extended too far, the consequence would be the loss of the 

 plant in a day or two. 



Some of the continental cultivators of these plants have grown them to 

 a large size within a veiy short space of time, excluding the air by 

 placing a tall bell-glass over the plant, supplying it with abundance of 

 water and heat in the stove, and also by placing them in a Tery warm 

 hot-bed ; thus stimulated to the utmost extent, the plant swells out to a 

 large size ; but care must be taken that this humidity be not carried too 

 far, for fear of rotting the plant. 



In regard to temperature, most succulent plants will stand uninjured 

 when the thermometer falls to forty-five degrees, or even lower, but 

 many of them vnR also stand several degrees of frost with impunit}'. 

 Excepting the Cactece, Sfapelia, and Euphorbia, all other succulents are 

 rather injured by aitificial heat than benefited. They will stand any 

 degree of sun heat, but fii'e heat is a very different thing. 



The late ^Ir. Haworth, in his Supplementum Plantaram Succulen- 

 taiTim," speaking of the culture of succulent plants, transcribes the follow- 

 ing passage from Miller, a passage which, he says, " is worthy of being 

 recorded in letters of gold ; and more especially," he adds, (and we may 

 add so also) " as the truth- it inculcates, or rather complains of, still 

 continues to exist." The quotation alluded to is to the following efi*ect : 



At which time (October) you should remove them (the succidents) into 

 the conservatory, placing them as near the windows as possible at first, 

 letting them have as much free open air as the season will permit, by 

 keeping the windows open whenever the weather is good. And now you 

 must begin to abate your waterings, giving it to them sparingly ; but you 

 slwuld not suffer the leaves to shrink for icant of moisture, which is 

 another extreme some people run into for want of a httle observation ; 

 for when they are suffered to shrink (not die gradually away) for 

 want of sufficient moisture to keep their vessels disteiided, they are 

 rendered incapable of discharging this moisture whenever they receive it 

 again.''^ 



I humbly hope," adds Mr. Haworth, " this golden passage from our 

 great horticulturist will have more effect over those who read it, than all 

 my own more feeble pen has heretofore stated to the same effect. For, at 

 this enhghtened period, it requires but a moderate share of philosophy 

 to allow that au' and exercise, and a due supply of warmth and food, are 

 all essential requisites towards the healthful support of every organised 

 being, whether of the animal or vegetable kingdom. And air and the 



