138 CACTACEOUS PLANTS. 



the species for general cultivation. It is of easy increase by seeds, or division of 

 the roots in spring. 



We have already had occasion to express our great obligations to the Messrs. 

 Henderson of the Wellington Nursery ; and we are also indebted to their courtesy 

 for the specimen from which our figure was made. 



The derivation of the term Campanula is too obvious to need explanation; and it 

 must be acknowledged that, in this instance at least, a happy choice has been made, 

 for the flowers of nearly all the species are eminently suggestive of the form of the 

 bell. True, no audible sounds issue from their graceful forms, yet do they praise, 

 with mute eloquence, the Goodness that has formed all created things. 



CACTACEOUS PLANTS. 



We have been requested by a correspondent to give some instructions on the culture 

 of the plants of the Cactus tribe ; and as certain of the species are very generally 

 grown as window plants, a few hints on their management may prove useful to 

 many other of our readers. And we offer them the more readily, that the most 

 critical period of the year is at hand ; for upon their treatment in the autumn and 

 winter season, depends the production of the flowers in the following year. Most of 

 the plants formerly included in the genus Cactus are now divided into several distinct 

 genera, or sub-genera, of which the following are the principal : — 



Cereus. — The whip-like pendant stems of C.flagelliformis are well known, but 

 many of the species are of erect growth. All of them are, however, comparatively 

 slender, round, and with many small vertical furrows, like those of the Creeping 

 Cereus. The night-blowing C. speciosissimus is now classed with the true Cacti, 

 which comprises most of the square-stemmed, jointed species. 



Echino- cactus. — The species placed here are mostly of a thick, but tapering form, 

 regularly, and often deeply, furrowed, the ridges being set with numerous sharp 

 spines. Some of the species attain an immense size. They consist usually of only 

 one stem, which increases annually in bulk. The flowers proceed from the ribs. 



Epiphjllum. — This division includes all those species with thin, flattened, and 

 jointed, leaf- like stems, indented at the edges, and without spines. Flowers 

 produced singly from the indentations. 



Mammillaria. — This easily recognized genus contains the species covered with small 

 tubercular nipple-like bodies (whence the name.) There are no ribs; and their 

 form is generally round, or oblong. 



