$02 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Mesembryanthemiim. — Curious little half-shrubby 

 plants, remarkable for the many and diverse forms 

 assumed by the thick flesh)' leaves. The flowers, which 

 are a good deal like an enlarged Daisy, are in many 

 species very showy, their colours be ng white, ytTow, 

 end various shades of red. They do not open well in 

 dull weather. Increased readily by cuttings il not over- 

 Wi ite red. 



Opuntia. — Some of these form large bushes built up 

 dI thick flattened branches, on the edges of which the 

 (lowers are produced. Though exceedingly curious, 

 they are les^ ornamental than many other succulents. 

 Two, however, are of decided economic value, O. Ficus- 

 indica, the Prickly Pear, and O. cochinebifera, on which 

 the Cochineal imcct is reared. 



PhylloCclCtUS. I his family embraces the showiest of all 

 the Cadi, many ol those at one lime regarded as Cereus 

 being now included wiih the I'hvllocaclus. One of the 

 Lw»l known is P. speciosissimus, a common object in 



cottage windows in some districts. Many new varieties 

 and hybrids have been brought out within the last few 

 years, and among them are some with creamy white, 

 pink, orange, and scarlet blossoms. Several, too, have 

 a curious blending of vermilion and purple with a peculiar 

 metallic lustre. The colouring of the flowers of the 

 Phyllocacti is extremely brilliant. If only one group of 

 succulents can be grown, choice should fall upon these, as 

 they are of easy culture. The flowers may not last long 

 in beauty, but a succession appears, and the colours 

 range from white to self rose and glowing crimson. 



PiloeereilS. — Columnar plants, more or less hairy, of 

 which the best known is the Old Man Cactus (P. senilis). 



Stapelia. — Low-growing much-branched plants, many 

 with square stems ; these are remarkable from the 

 curious thick, starfish-like flowers, which have a most 

 foetid odour, exactly like carrion. Nearly all the succulents 

 named require a soil composed of loam, brick rubbish, 

 and sand. 



FORCING SHRUBS FOR EARLY FLOWERING. 



ANY of our hardy shrubs that flower naturally in the open ground early in 

 the year are, when forced into bloom, useful for the greenhouse, as their 

 charming flowers are much appreciated at the time when their outdoor 

 brethren still wear a winter garb. There are two different ways of treating 

 scrubs that tire intended to be forced prematurely into bloom, firstly, lifting them from the 

 open ground in the autumn, and potting them at once ; and, secondly, keeping them 

 altogether confined in pots, and forcing them year after year. This latter method, though 

 preferable in some ways, gives greater trouble, as after the flowers are past the plants need just 

 as much care as before, that is, they must after blooming be protected in such a way that the 

 tender foliage will not be injured by cold cutting winds. After all danger in this respect is over, 



the plants should be plunged 

 out of doors, in a spot fully 

 exposed to the sun. During 

 the summer attention must be 

 given them in the matter of 

 water, and an occasional dose 

 of liquid manure will be of 

 servLe. As shrubs treated in 

 this way need constant atten- 

 tion, the method generally 

 adopted is to lift them from 

 the open ground, and pot them 

 for flowering at Christmas, or 

 in the early months of the 

 New Year. A considerable 

 amount of heat is necessary 

 to get them in flower by 

 Christmas, and owing to this 

 the blossoms last for so short 

 a time that, unless in excep- 

 tional cases, it is seldom 

 attempted. In selecting plants 

 in the open ground for forcing, 

 preference should be given to 

 those that have grown in a 



AZALEA MOLLIS. 



