2 
) O, 
THE ALOE FAMILY. 
211 
application of the coldest water, before the sun has had an opportunity of breaking then’ icy chains. 
The small sorts do admirably in a Wardian case; and any, or all the species might be successfully 
grown, hi one of those Wardian cases “ of a larger growth,” which we hope soon to see interesting 
many an amateur who cannot bestow sufficient time and attention on a greenhouse of the ordinary 
construction. 
As to soil, the Aloes can have no better compost than pure yellow loam, of a free and open texture, 
intermixed with about a fourth part of pounded bricks broken up quite small, the dust as well as the 
small lumpy pieces being added to the loam, and the whole intimately blended. All the species which 
attain a moderate size should have pots in proportion, not only on account of them producing roots 
freely, but also because them thick fleshy leaves sometimes render the plants awkwardly top-heavy, if 
they are hi too small pots. The pots must, however, be thoroughly drained, upon the most efficient 
plan; and, providing this is done, and the kind of soil, above recommended, is used, there need be no 
fear of employing pots of too large a size for the larger sorts. As with the majority of greenhouse 
plants, potting may be done any time from early spring onwards through the summer; it is best not 
done too late in the season, though it may be d,one at any time, if due care is afterwards exercised hi 
the application of water. The small sorts never need large pots. 
As to watering, the general rule is to apply water just before the plant reaches that condition in 
icliich it would begin to droop or shrivel. In all cases, therefore, it must be less frequently given hi 
whiter than in summer, on account of the difference in the amount of evaporation going on at these 
two periods. Certainly Aloes and other succulent plants, require less water within a given period, at 
any season, than most other plants, on account of the slower process by which moisture passes away 
from them. In summer they may need watering once in two days—seldom, if ever, daily; hi whiter 
they may not need any attention of this kind for a month, or even two months, at a thne. The only 
danger, however, is that of giving too much in winter ; and it may, therefore, be taken as a safe rule 
to wait for indications of shrivelling in the lower leaves before water is applied, at that season. 
With proper soil, potting, and moderate care, they will not be liable to be over watered at any other 
season. 
We shall now enumerate a limited selection of distinct kinds, which are worth growing, either for 
their exotic aspect, the curiosity or beauty of their foliage, or for the showiness of their flowers. The 
flower stems of most of the larger Aloes form simple upright racemes, which are clothed with drooping, 
tube-like flowers, comparatively large; and these, when highly coloured, are very ornamental:— 
Rhipodendron. — II. plicatile has a forked stem, the leaves arranged in two rows, and the tubular 
red flowers straight. 
Pachieexdron. —P. africanmn, 8 feet, red; P. ferox, 6 feet, yellowish; P. suproalceve, 5 feet, 
orange, are some of the larger single-stemmed forms of Aloe, with straight flowers. 
Aloe. — A. purpurasceus is a tall forked-stemmed species, -with reddish flowers; A. vulgaris , 12 feet, 
yellow; A. linecita, 5 feet, scarlet; A. prolifer a, 2 feet, orange; A. saponaria , 4 feet, red; A. sub- 
erecta, 3 feet, scarlet; A. varicgatci, 3 feet, pink; A. albocincta, 3 feet, has its orange flowers in a 
branched or corymbose head. These also have the flowers straight. 
Gasteria.— G. nigricans, 2 feet, red ; G. subcarinata , 2 feet, orange; G. verrucosa, 2 feet, red; 
G. maculata, 2 feet, scarlet. The flowers of these are tubular, curved, and more or less swollen; and 
they are mostly tipped with green. 
Apicra.— Small plants, with greenish white flowers, small, and somewhat two-lipped ; they are 
more curious than showy. A. spiralis ; A. pentagona; A. imbricata, are interesting-looking plants. 
Haworthia.— Small plants similar to the Apicras, and destitute of showy flowers, these being 
greenish white. H. translucens, quite transparent; II. atrovirens ; H. planifolia ; II. margaritifera; 
II. retusci; H. reticulata, are interesting species. 
With the above, or a similar collection, the Aloe-house would be kept gay and interesting from 
early spring quite through the summer. The Haworthias and Apicras are especially suitable, from 
them diminutive size and curious structure, for the smaller Wardian cases, usually seen placed hi 
windows. 
Some of the species of Aloe are interesting as furnishing the drug—Aloes—employed hi medicine, 
and winch seems to be obtained from several of the kinds haring large juicy leaves. Three kinds are 
prepared; the best by draining the leaves, the next by pressure, and the third, or worst quality, by 
boiling.—M. 
