150 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
lively little value, inconsequence of the time necessary for finding 
it out—time which no young cultivator could afford, even though 
there were no other bar in the way. This is the reason why we, 
different from all other conductors of floral periodicals, have en¬ 
deavoured, from time to time, to give short and simple views of a 
few of the most important principles connected with the art; 
though only occasionally,—convinced that this department of our 
journal is not the least valuable. R. M. 
ON STAPELIA. 
BY MR. PLANT. 
The genus Stapelia, and its allies, Huernia , Piaranthus, and 
Caralluma , being about this time in their greatest perfection ; or, 
at least, in those collections in which the requisite attention and 
treatment is given them ; I have thought it a good opportunity to 
say a few words in relation to their general treatment. Few 
plants have suffered more neglect within these last few years than 
the above-named; and yet few plants exhibit more singularity, 
or, as in some species, gorgeous colouring than does Stapelia — 
certainly they are not surpassed, even among orchidaceous plants, 
beautiful as these really are. But in this, as in almost every ex¬ 
isting thing, taste is the ruling principle ; and so to those only 
who may agree with me in admiring this class of plants is this 
little paper addressed. 
The entire genus Stapelia are natives of the blowing, sandy 
plains of the Cape of Good Hope. With us their usual place is 
the greenhouse ; or, it may be, (where the establishment contains 
it,) in a house appropriated to Cacti. Now this is unquestion¬ 
ably right, inasmuch as it is a near approach to the mean tem¬ 
perature of the Cape : but what I would suggest is, the propriety 
of giving them more seasonal treatment ; that is, the keeping of 
the season of rest and the season of growth and flowering more 
distinct. This is a subject which, from the advantages I have 
derived from it, I am fully persuaded cannot be too fnmly im¬ 
pressed on a gardener’s mind. The mode I adopt is this—to 
beo-in with the resting season ; this occurs soon after the plants 
flower the last time, which is usually in the month of August ; 
