240 MEMOKANDA. 



wood. It only requires the protection of a cold pit or frame 

 during winter, and flowers abundantly in April. 



Although its blossoms are green and inconspicuous, it is far 

 from an unimportant species, on account of its blooming freely, 

 and being very sweet scented. 



May 11, 1846. 



MEMORANDA. 



Mammillaria pulchka treated as an aquatic. 



Having ascertained that Cacti grown in the absence of fresh air succeed 

 best in a moist state, I was desirous of knowing the result, were a plant ex- 

 posed to the changeable temperature of a greenhouse, and constantly kept in 

 water. On the 11th of June, 1845, a plant of Mammillaria pulchra, in a3- 

 inch pot was placed in a 6-inch pot (not re-potted), which, having the hole 

 in its bottom stopped up, has been kept full with water, and, strange as it may 

 appear to some, the plant is still growing luxuriantly. Among Cacti growers, 

 it is a general custom to keep such plants quite dry during winter, and even 

 in summer some people are afraid to give them more water than moistens 

 the surface of the soil. This single experiment, however, seems to show that 

 the nature of Cacti under cultivation is as yet but imperfectly understood. 



James Donald. 



Ward's Cases in Miniature, 



Among various experiments tried in the garden, it was thought desirable 

 to know how long some plants were capable of existing without fresh air or 

 water. To accomplish this, a small plant of Echinocactus multiplex was put 

 into a phial, and sealed up on the 24th of March, 1844. Before the plant was 

 put in, the phial was three parts filled with water and a few small stones to 

 support a little turfy peat, in which the root of the plant was placed. Up to 

 the present day (May 29, 1846), the phial has been suspended by a bit of 

 wire on a north wall, except during a short time in the spring of 184.5, when 

 the intense frost would have burst it. The plant is still in perfect health, and 

 seems likely to remain so for a long time, although it has not made much 

 progress in growth. 



At the same time another Mammillaria was put into another phial, in dry 

 sandy soil, and sealed up. It is still alive, but has decreased about one half 

 in size, yet it is not so much dried up but that it would soon recover by the 

 admission of a little water. This has also been hanging on a north wall by 

 the side of the other. 



For people who visit foreign countries this experiment would certainly be 

 worthy of a trial, inasmuch as some rare plants might be introduced without 

 much difficulty or expense. Such experience as I have gained teaches me 

 that the main point to attend to is, that in situations like those just described, 

 the plants shall have plenty of light, without being exposed to the direct rays 

 of the sun. — James Donald. 



