62 THE FLORIST. 



Ajuga reptans is a commonly-distributed plant, being found in 

 moist meadows, ditches, &c. The flower of this species is blue ; and 

 the general dispersion of the plant effects its rejection by the garden 

 cultivator. It may occasionally be found with pink flowers,' and 

 sometimes white. I imagine, however, that the latter state is seldom 

 met with, while the former is very frequent. The change, it may be 

 remarked, can scarcely be considered an improvement on the general 

 colour. An old herbalist, who published a work a century and a half 

 ago, extols this plant on account of its medicinal qualities. " Many 

 times (he adds) such as give themselves much to drink are troubled 

 with strange fancies, strange sights in the night-time, &c. ; those 

 persons I have known to be cured by taking the syrup of this herb." 

 Scabiosa succisa, or Devil's bite Scabious has an obtuse or blunt 

 root, similar to our Polyanthus, which, agreeably with a vulgar error, 

 was bitten off* by his Satanic majesty when in wrath, he having 

 envied mankind its medicinal use. On this ancient and absurd sup- 

 position, however, I intend to say nothing, preferring rather to allude 

 to the usefulness of the plant, both for culture and general display. 

 Last season more especially I remarked the beauty exhibited by this 

 plant near the renowned resort of the poet Denham, called " Coo- 

 per's :Hill," where a considerable space is covered by this favourite, 

 than which, when in its prime of autumnal attire, I may venture the 

 opinion that few plants can prove more conspicuous or pleasing. It 

 is found plentifully in the fertile soil of Egham Race-course, near 

 Sunning Hill, Thorpe, and Chertsey. 



Englefield Green. W. Whale. 



CULTURE OF CACTI. 



Some of your lady readers who have requested a few hints on the 

 cultivation of the Cactus, will, I hope, find in the following remarks 

 something to meet their wishes. The varieties of this tribe of plants 

 are very numerous, and inhabit very different climates, some of them 

 enduring uninjured a temperature little short of freezing, whilst 

 others, inhabitants of the hottest and dryest parts of the globe, will 

 not bear the same degree of cold ; there is also great difference in 

 the moisture congenial to different varieties, some of the Epiphyllums 

 and Cereuses thriving with an amount of moisture both in the soil 

 and in the air, for the greater part of the year, that would be certain 

 death to others ; so that it is needful to know something of the native 

 climate of the different varieties to be cultivated, particularly in an 

 extensive collection. The attractions of the Cactus are great, whe- 

 ther we regard the beauty of the plants in some varieties, their pecu- 

 liarity in all, or the magnificence of the flowers in others, which cer- 

 tainly are amongst the grandest of Flora's beauties. Nothing that I 

 know of can vie with Cereus grandiflorus (Night-blowing Cereus), 

 and few plants are easier of cultivation. No doubt the reason why it 

 (and the tribe generally) is not more cultivated is the fugitive cha- 



