49 



SMALL-FLOWERED SHEW-CEREUS. 



Ga rden Variety . 



May we be permitted, in the first place, to propose for the 

 long Latin words Cereus speciosissimus the more English, 

 though not quite English, term of Shew-Cereus ; a name, in 

 the first place, nearly a translation of the Latin, and secondly 

 characteristic of the purposes to which this beautiful species 

 is so generally applied. 



As for the plant now figured, it was sent up from Bury 

 Hill, by Mr. Scott, gardener to Charles Barclay, Esq., as the 

 species called Cereus coccineus. Now there are two plants 

 so called by Botanists : one a variety of Cereus setaceus, with 

 white flowers, and the other a plant with from four to eight 

 long bristles in each of its tufts of spines, and scarlet 

 flowers six inches in diameter, with a little stain of blue on 

 the edges (not middle) of the petals. 



It is evident then that this is neither of the plants in- 

 tended under the name of C. coccineus. It is, in fact, some 

 garden variety of the Shew-Cereus, with smaller flowers than 

 usual. It is a distinct and pretty variety worth cultivation. 



It is a greenhouse plant requiring the same treatment as 

 the Shew-Cereus itself. Formerly such plants were grown in 

 the poorest soil, such as old lime and brick rubbish, but it is 

 now well known that they do far better in a much richer 

 compost. Equal parts of rich loam, sandy peat, and dung, 

 well mixed together, seem to suit them admirably. The 

 principal point to be attended to in their management is, to 

 supply them freely with water when growing in the summer, 

 and then to place them out in a warm part of the garden in 

 the autumn, fully exposed to the sun. They should be taken 

 into the greenhouse before the weather gets too wet and cold, 

 and kept rather dry during the winter. The present species 

 strikes readily from cuttings treated in the usual way. 



September, 1842. 



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