io8 



THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



Agave. — There are many different species, the com- 

 monest being A. americana (sometimes called American 

 aloe), which grows in a rosette of broad, long, green fleshy 

 leaves with brown prickles along the edges. There are several 



Fig. 45. — Cereus flagelliformis (Rat's-Tail Cactus). 



varieties, one {ptda) with yellow leaves edged with green, and 

 another (variegata) with green edged with yellow. They are 

 all handsome plants for the greenhouse. As they rarely 

 flower while they are small, and then die, they are usually 

 grown for their foliage alone. The name is pronounced 

 A-ga-ve. 



