210 NOTICE OF A FEW PLANTS IN CRASSULACEiE, &c. 
and white flowers, which last a long time. These three species are not in common 
cultivation, but are to be met with, and would constitute with the common species 
associated with them, and grown in the same manner, a very interesting group of 
greenhouse plants. We have treated of them as pot-plants only, but know of nothing 
existing to prevent their succeeding in the open air ; we know they grow, and have 
known them flower late when turned out as flower-garden plants, but in that manner 
they are out of character. If they could be induced to flourish and flower as rock- 
plants, they would be very interesting ; the selection of a proper site, and suitable 
provision made for their roots, would be the way to ascertain whether they are 
adapted for growing in such a way. 
Bochea falcata is really a splendid thing, and flowers very freely ; we have known 
it succeed excellently when favoured with the warmth of a temperate stove ; it also 
does well in the greenhouse. A point of difficulty respecting it is, that it does not 
branch so freely as could be desired, and would become a naked object if not pruned 
and kept correct in this particular. R. albiflora we are not acquainted with ; it is 
said to be similar to falcata, but has white flowers ; if it is the case, it would be a 
worthy companion to that species. 
EcJieveria, a small genus, is another in Crassulaceae whose members increase in 
size under liberal management. They scarcely bear comparing with Rocheas, but 
notwithstanding are very interesting ; the bright colours of their flowers, compared 
with the glaucous hue of the foliage, is very striking : E. gibbifiora is probably the 
best ; it grows very large if allowed free scope in an open border. Before quitting 
this part of our subject, we may observe, Crassula is still a very extensive genus, 
numbering about eighty species, and divided into eleven sections. 
We arrive now at the second point to be noticed, that of the way of rendering 
succulent plants in general, those principally which attain but small dimensions, 
more interesting than they are usually met with; to effect this, it is at once 
assumed they must be grown otherwise than in pots. All plants have a more or 
less artificial appearance when growing in pots, but it is especially true of succulents, 
that they are peculiarly so when thus grown. Their mechanical forms never assume 
a careless, at-home sort of aspect ; therefore under culture it is not themselves pro- 
portionately that create interest, but the situation and manner in which they are 
grown. The plants abstractedly have features of interest of no mean order ; a 
goodly collection is seldom, if ever, without some of the members which constitute 
it being in flower, and the inflorescence of some is really very fine : nor are there 
any of the members of the numerous genera but are worthy of and attract attention 
by the colour or peculiarity of their individual or collective blossoms. They are quite 
necessary to collections of any extent, to relieve, by their originality of character, the 
monotony that too often exists. 
In growing succulents, although the index to what they require is found by 
regarding them in their native habitats, it does not determine that treatment 
apparently opposite to that which may be pointed out as most suitable is unsuited 
