January 7, 1802. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
5 
interesting with their symnaetrical rosettes of various shades, and 
this symmetry and uniformity has made them, like their congeners 
the Sedums, popular among “ carpet bedders.” I must, however, 
contend that any formal arrangement of the Sempervivums 
detracts from their beauty, and makes them look excessively stitf. 
If grown in clumps in the border or on rockwork the effect is 
entirely different, the beautiful arrangement of leaves radiating 
from the centre of the plant and the varied hues of the individual 
leaves combining to make a little clump full of attraction to those 
who can appreciate the value and beauty of the plants. The 
structure is curious, and the succulent character of leaves shows 
how exquisitely adapted are the plants to the situations in which 
they are commonly found— i.e , on rocks, where they have little 
sustenance, and where they are generally exposed to the full glare 
of the summer sun. It is certainly impossible here to do justice 
to or describe fully the varied beauties of the different species. 
Many of them are much alike, but still with most there is some 
distinction either in colour of the ground tint of the leaf, colour of 
the tip or edge, form of the leaf, or some other peculiarity which 
to the enthusiast renders the genus particularly interesting. Then 
from the centre of the plant will rise a thick fleshy flower stem, 
which bears flowers of varying colours according to the species, 
flowers which if under glass remind one of some gems, so exquisitely 
formed are they. These forms are of various shade of red or yellow. 
The uses of the Sempervivums are many, as, besides being 
adapted for carpet bedding, they are well suited for pots or for 
rockwork or borders. Many a sunny window might be rendered 
extremely interesting by a small collection of these flowers, and, as 
most of them increase freely, a stock once obtained will last for 
generations, besides affording a few plants for friends who may be 
attracted by the delicate carving of the plants. It is, however, 
on a sunny ledge of the rockery that the Sempervivums are most 
at home, and it is there that they will afford most pleasure. A 
little mound of S. Laggeri with its pretty rosettes finely netted 
with silvery cobwebs is always pretty in summer. This, which is 
sometimes called S. arachnoideum majus, is larger and finer than 
the commoner S. arachnoideum, the Cobweb Houseleek. 
There is now a large number of species in cultivation. Most of 
these are hardy, and it is to the hardy species that I have confined 
myself ; but even these are very pretty when grown under glass in 
a frame or cold greenhouse. It is somewhat difficult to select 
varieties for notice. One of the best known and among the most 
attractive is that known as S. californicura, wffiich is, by the way, 
not a native of California. This forms fine large rosettes, but is 
shy in flowering. It is somewhat curious to notice with this 
species how a plant which has formed a large rosette from being 
planted singly in good soil becomes crowded by its numerous 
progeny, and eventually assumes very modest dimensions. 
S. montanum is a very neat kind, smaller and greener in colour, 
and with a different arrangement of leaf than the former, but it is 
also a much freer bloomer. This has red flowers. S. Pittoni is a 
pretty species with yellow flowers. S. Reginas Amaliae is a species 
with fine large rosettes and with yellow flowers. S tristeis of a very 
dark green colour, and is in this respect very distinct. I got a very 
neat little Sempervivum a little time ago under the name of S. hirtum. 
This is profusely covered over with little hairs, and is very pretty. 
S. stenopetalum is a very pretty species, with sharp spines at the 
points of the leaves. One I had several months ago under the 
name of S. Conolli, but which I also see catalogued as S. Comolli, 
is very pretty, but has not flowered with me yet. It is of a pretty 
dark colour, with deeper coloured tips. S. anchnoides, or arach¬ 
noideum, is fairly well known as the Cobweb Houseleek, so called 
from the network of silvery hue which grows over the leaves. 
This is very beautiful in summer. I have already mentioned 
S. Laggeri of similar character, but larger, finer, and a better 
flowerer than many. There are a considerable number of others, 
and a good collection forms a very interesting study, but I am 
afraid I must refrain from mentioning more at present. 
The Sempervivums are so easily grown that details of culture 
are unnecessary. It is well known how well the common House- 
leek, S. tectorum, grows on house tops with apparently no vestige 
of soil, but if free blooming is desired a little old mortar rubbish 
in the soil will be found advantageous. The Sempervivums 
increase freely by offsets, and are generally propagated by means 
of these ; but another method is to break the leaves carefully off, 
and after allowing them to dry for a few hours to place them point 
up on the surface of sandy soil in a box or pot. After some time 
these take root, and a young plant is formed at the base of the 
leaf. Seeds of some species can be obtained, and should be 
carefully sown in light sandy soil, and placed in a frame or green¬ 
house. I have but inadequately dealt with the'se curious plants, 
which are great favourites of mine, and which present so many 
features of interest that no one need regret having made a 
beginning with them.—S. Arnott. 
Events op the Week. —As noted in another paragraph the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s Committees will meet on Tuesday, January 12th, 
at twelve noon, in the Drill Hall, James Street, Westminster. At 
2 P.M. on the same day the Provisional Committee of the proposed 
International Fruit Show will hold their first meeting in the Cannon 
Street Hotel. A sale of Orchids will be held at Messrs. Protheroe and 
Morris’s Rooms, Cheapside, on Friday, January 8th, when Messrs. 
Linden offer, numerous plants of Cattleya Warocqueana, together with 
the handsome Cattleya Rex and several other novelties. 
- The Weather in the Metropolitan District has been 
much brighter and colder during the past few days. Frosts prevailed 
on Monday and Tuesday, the lowest temperature registered ranging 
from 9° to 15° below^^freezing point. 
- The Royal Horticultural Society will hold its first 
New Year’s meeting on January 12th in the Drill Hall, Westminster, 
where the Fruit, Floral, and Orchid Committees will assemble at 
twelve o’clock as usual, and the Scientific Committee in the Council 
room at 4 P.M. A paper on“ Winter Vegetables ” will be read at 3 p.m., 
by Mr. W. Iggulden, Marston Gardens, Frome. Arrangements for 1892, 
and a list of the Society’s Fellows have been issued, and non-Fellows 
may obtain all particulars on application to the Secretary, 117, Victoria 
Street, S.W. 
- Chrysanthemum Show Dates for 1892.—The following 
are the dates of the Shows advertised in our columns up to the present 
time :—Kingston, November 8th and 9th ; Portsmouth, November 2nd, 
3rd, and 4th ; Birmingham, November 9th and 10th ; Hull, November 
IGth and 17th ; Bournemouth, November 9th and 10th. 
- Gardening Appointments. —Mr. Alfred Hames, flower 
garden foreman under Mr. T. H. Grasp, Canford Manor, Wimborne, has 
been appointed gardener to Alfred Pope, Esq., Wrackleford House, 
Charminster ; and Mr. Charles Foster, for the past two years gardener 
to E. P. Martin, Esq., Dowlais House, Dowlais, has been appointed 
gardener to Morgan S. Williams, Esq., Aberpergwm, Glyn Neath. 
- Magenta Queen Primula.—M essrs. B. S. Williams & Son 
ask if we will make some reference to blooms they have sent of this 
Primula. It is easy to do so in the case of one variety, but when 
several arrive individual references to them are not always practi¬ 
cable. The blooms before us are of full size, great substance, and 
rich glowing magenta in colour, further brightened by an orange 
scarlet eye. 
-Seedling Chrysanthemums. —Mr. Robert Owen sends us 
several blooms of his seedling Chrysanthemums. One, a yellow, a 
seedling from Beauty of Castle Hill, is very fine indeed. It is of the 
Sunflower type, but with broader florets, and free from the silvery tint 
on the reverse side. A rosy lilac, with incurving florets, has a resem¬ 
blance to Madame C. Audiguier, and must be seen again. It is from 
George Atkinson. The other varieties are not in condition for indicating 
their true character. 
-The Devon and Exeter Gardeners’ Mutual Improve¬ 
ment Association. —The programme for the spring session, 1892, is 
as follows, the meetings to be held at the Guildhall, Exeter, at eight 
o’clock each evening ;—Wednesday, January 20th, Mr. Alfred George, 
Heavitree (formerly head gardener at Bicton) ; subject, “The Cultiva¬ 
tion of the Peach and the Nectarine, with Hints on Pruning.” Wednes¬ 
day, February 3rd, the Rev. A. H. Cruwys, Cruwys Morchard Rectory ; 
subject, “ How to Grow, and How to Show, Vegetables for Exhibition. 
Wednesday, February 17th, Mr. J. T. Ebbutt, Winslade Park Gardens ; 
subject, “The Cultivation of the Violet.” Wednesday, March 2ud, 
Mr. F. W. Meyer, Messrs. Veitch’s Nurseries, Exeter ; subject “Alpine 
Plants.” Wednesday, March 16th, Mr. G, B. Lansdale, Oxford Terrace , 
subject, “ The Culture of the Carnation by Amateurs.’’ Wednesday, 
March 30th, Mr. Andrew Hope (at Messrs. Veitch & Sons) ; subject, 
“ Daffodils and Narcissi, Illustrated with Typical Specimens.” Wednes¬ 
day, April 6th, annual business meeting. Communications to be 
addressed to Mr, A. Hope, at Messrs. Veitch & Sons, High Street, Exeter 
