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A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES IN 
THE CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE GENUS 
MESEMBRYANTHEMUM. 
Whenever a subject of interest presents itself to our consideration, which we 
have never before had occasion to notice in former volumes of our Magazine, it 
affords us much pleasure to be able to offer a few remarks upon it, and our attention 
shall now be directed to the extremely beautiful, though little cultivated genus, 
Mesembryanthemum. There are no less than three hundred distinct species and 
varieties of this genus mentioned in Loudon's " Hortus Britannicus," and we 
possess a great number of them in our collection at Chatsworth, of all which we 
are not acquainted with a single species or variety that has not some peculiar claims 
to beauty and interest. Producing annually an immense number of flowers of the 
most brilliant colours, and yet of the most extensive variety, having thick, fleshy, 
foliage, of a most singular and interesting character, and being besides most easily 
cultivated, this beautiful genus appears to us to possess charms and merits of a 
more than ordinary nature, and we are at a loss to imagine how many cultivators 
can willingly neglect, or wilfully despise, a genus of plants which certainly deserves 
to rank amongst the most pleasing and delightful of nature's productions. 
In another part of the present number, a few remarks will be found on the 
propriety of affording these plants a great degree of solar light ; and though this 
may safely be said to be one of the most important features in their cultivation, 
there are other particulars which require equal attention and consideration. It is 
observed, in the article just alluded to, that light exercises a more important 
influence upon these plants relative to the production of flowers and the colours of 
those flowers, than either sterility of soil, or scarcity of water ; but we by no means 
wish to deny that these latter assist much, in conjunction with light, in forming 
and developing a great number of rich-coloured flowers ; on the contrary, we are 
disposed to award them individually and unitedly a due share of the efiicacy, still, 
however, maintaining, that light is the principal and most powerful agent. 
Notwithstanding that the popular opinion inclines to the use of a light and 
partially barren soil for cultivating these plants, we find some of the most recent 
and eminent writers on the subject, and one in particular, whose success in the 
.cultivation of this genus is almost unrivalled, recommend a rich, light loam, with 
a shght mixture of very rotten dung, as a proper and suitable compost for these 
plants. In this respect, however, we differ from the talented author just referred 
to, as we consider that a trifling admixture of lime-rubbish with the soil, or a good 
proportion of river or white sand, is very necessary, if not essential, to cultivate, or 
at least to flower, these plants in a superior manner. With respect to the quantity 
of water which they require, we are averse to administering to them too large a 
supply at any time, but more especially in the winter ; and we are of opinion, that 
VOL. V. NO. LIV. s 
