ON THE CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
215 
to it by a single fibre, but easily brushed off by the slightest pres¬ 
sure ; and besides, they are naturally deciduous. 
Now these small leaves are actually organized progeny ; for no 
sooner are they cast upon the ground than the fibre just alluded 
to fixes itself along with others in the ground, and a new plant is 
thus established. 
This plant, then, appears to be formed like some reptiles, or cer¬ 
tain animals, which carry their progeny on their back, or on some 
other part about them, until they can provide for themselves, when 
they are shook off. So it is with the Echeveria; they are sym¬ 
metrical in form, made up of parts bearing the resemblance of 
leaves, but which are in fact really young plants disguised in the 
shape of foliage ; and no doubt exercise all the functions of leaves 
in behalf of the mother plant before she throws them off. 
There are many other succulents whose leaf-like appendages 
partake of the structure of stems, and which if planted in light dry 
compost, and placed in bottom heat, take root and develop all the 
parts of the plant whence they are taken. 
OF THE CHINESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
We are all regretting at present (Nov. 10) that our summers 
are not long enough for the full display of this interesting exotic 
in the open air. The plant grows luxuriantly with us ; but whe¬ 
ther our climate be too favourable to its growing powers, and 
thereby retards the development of its flowers, remains to be 
considered ; and also whether there can be any practical means or 
mode of management among florists by which the flowering might 
be expedited. 
All the species and varieties of the Chinese Chrysanthemum now 
in this country are easily propagated,—by slips or cuttings in the 
spring—hy layers of the points of the shoots in summer—and 
sometimes by seeds produced by some of the semi-double varieties. 
But in whatever way they are propagated, or wherever grown in 
the open air, and even giving them the advantage of a south wall 
as a means of maturing the flower-buds, still their season of bloom¬ 
ing is but little advanced ; and at the very time when a great 
majority of them are promising their beauty, a single night’s frost 
happens, and lays them prostrate for the season. 
