30 THE FLORISiT. 



pretty, and generally nnmerous, and of longer duration ; while in 

 Echinocacti they are for the most part large, and often of singular 

 beauty both in form and colour ; and as every thing is extraordinary 

 in this curious tribe, so do we see in some plants the flowers pro- 

 truding from their surface without stalk or stem, as if they had 

 accidentally fallen thereon ; while in other instances the flower-stalk 

 or tube exceeds the height of the whole plant, and exhibits every 

 variety and combination of colour, — white, yellow, green, primrose, 

 scarlet, crimson, &c. &c. But as a friend of mine, looking at my 

 collection, lately remarked, " they are always in flower ; the whole 

 plant is so attractive, and what is more, it is always so throughout 

 the year." Those who have seen but a few trifling things in Covent 

 Garden, or the common kinds for sale in Wardian cases, may sup- 

 pose this to be but hobbyhorsical language ; could they, however, but 

 see an amateur's selection of a few hundred varieties, so arranged as 

 to present every variety of contrast, in the form of the plants, the 

 size, form, and colour, now of spines, now of v/ool, now of hair, and 

 now the strange and singular admixtures of all of these, they would 

 not be disposed to question my friend's declaration. As Sir W. 

 Hooker has observed, no account or verbal description can convey 

 an adequate idea of this wonderful tribe, — they must be seen, or we 

 must resort to drawings. 



1 may give an account of their cultivation and a list of the finest 

 varieties, &c. in a future Number. In urging the readers of the 

 Florist to taste a new pleasure (truly a new one), in the cultivation 

 of this tribe of Cacti, I should in fairness give the caution, that no 

 one should do so who is not prepared to ride hobbyhorsically ; for 

 there is such fascination in their endless variety, " aHke, but yet how 

 different!" such a multiplicity of rare, singular, yet beautiful forms, 

 that the desire of adding a new feature to the collection is constantly 

 recurring; and as there are frequent difficulties in obtaining some 

 of the rarer sorts, so are desire and anticipation constantly on the 

 alert, and the pleasant hobbyhorse kept going at a gentle pace. 



Hull " F. R. Horner, M.D. 



[The collection of Cacti at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is 

 a very good one ; and among amateurs may be mentioned that of 

 Charles Palmer, Esq., of Shacklewell. This gentleman is one of the 

 oldest collectors of this extraordinary tribe ; and although there are 

 still many splendid collections on the continent, many have been 

 much reduced, and others discontinued altogether within these ten 

 years. Mr. Palmer has availed himself of these opportunities of en- 

 riching his collection, which is now considered to be one of the most 

 complete in existence.] 



