206 



CACTUS 



desirable Cacti to be raised from seed are Pelecyphora, 

 Mamillaria, Cereus, Echinopsis and Echinocactus. When 

 raised from seed, any of these may be successfully 

 grown as window plants, with little danger of loss. 



Perhaps the most easily grown of the Cactus family 

 are Opuntias, but these are not to be recommended for 



"Window culture, on account of their full equipment of 

 barbed spines. Cereus fhuj^difuriitis, Rhipsalis, and 

 Epiphylhims on their own roots, tiuurish well and are 

 exceedingly attractive. But the best of all are the Phyl- 

 locacti ; these are without spines, grow vigorously, and 

 produce an abundance of blooms if they are given a 

 sunny window and the necessary amount of water. 

 Cactuses generally are subject to insects and fungous 

 troubles. One of the most common pests is a scale in- 

 sect. The safest way to rid the plants of these is to 

 clean them off with a small brush which has bristles of 

 only moderate stiffness. The mealy bug may be easily 

 disposed of by dissolving 5 grams castile soap in hot 

 water, and adding IK quarts of alcohol ; then add 100 

 grams of fusel oil ; apply with a very fine spray. 



James Gurney. 



CABIA (Arabic name. Kadi ). Legnminds(s, tribe 

 Sophorece. About 3 species of small evergreen trees of 

 Arabia and Africa, remarkable for their regular mallow- 

 like fls. : Ivs. pinnate : Hs. axillary, mostly solitary, 

 drooping ; stamens 10, free. 



purpiirea, Forsk. (C. vdria, h^B-er.). Lfts. 20^0 pairs, 

 very narrow : tls. bell-shaped, pedunculate, rose-red, 

 pretty ; not spiny. Arabia. — Cult, in S. Calif. 



C. Ellisidna, Baker, has few large Ifts. and rose-colored fls. 

 Madag. B.M. 6685.— O. pubescens, Bojer. Lfts. 8-10 pairs, 

 broad-oblong. Madag. 



CJESALPlNIA (Andreas Caesalpinus, 1519-1603, Ital- 

 ian botanist), Legiitnindscp. Bkasiletto. Shrubs or 

 trees, with bipinnate Ivs. and racemes or panicles of 

 red or yellow fls., with obovate more or less clawed pet- 

 als, 10 stamens, and a very long style. The tls. are not 

 papilionaceous. The species, all tropical, are nearly 50. 

 The genus yields tanning materials and dye stuffs; and 

 most of the species are very showy in flower and are 

 favorites in tropical and semi-tropical countries. They 

 are grown rarely in warm glass houses. The botanical 

 status is confused. L. h. B. 



In Csesalpinia, propagation is readily effected by 

 seeds, which should be well soaked in warm water for 



C^SALPINIA 



some hours before sowing. A sandy soil should be 

 chosen for the seed-bed, and lightly shaded. After the 

 plants show the first true leaf, they should be potted 

 off into small pots of ordinary garden soil, not too rich, 

 made light by the addition of sand if of a t-layty nature. 

 The plants grow very rapidly, and must be shifted into 

 larger pots as their size requires for greenhouse cul- 

 ture, but in tropical climates may be transplanted into 

 permanent positions outdoors after they reach a fair 

 size in pots. The dwarf species are elegant subjects for 

 subtropical gardening during the summer months in 

 temperate climates, provided a sunny location is given 

 them, as they revel in rather dry. very warm soil, and 

 do not require artificial watering after being established. 

 A rocky, sunny situation may be given C. pirfcherrinia 

 and its variety flara, where they will bh>om during 

 many weeks of summer, until frost checks them, if 

 strong plants about a foot high are selected in early 

 summer. Care should be taken to gradually harden 

 off plants in the house, so that they may not be chilled 

 when transplanted outdoors. While they will do well 

 in a poor soil, an application of manure or chemical fer- 

 tilizer may be given them to advantage, causing them 

 to make a more vigorous growth and give better and 

 larger heads of flowers. In the tropics, and also in sub- 

 tropical climates, these shrubs and trees are always 

 admired and are commonly planted for ornament. The 

 Royal Poinciana (0. Beijia, but properly Polnciana 

 Regia, which see), and also thr r)warf Poinciana, or 

 Flower - fence {C puhhrrrinni ] . will thrive in close 

 proximity to the sea, and ui"e valuable for planting in 

 exposed coast situations. g^ j^^ Reasonee. 



A. Stamens long-exserted : fls. very showy: frees, 

 unarmed or nearly so. 



Gilliesii, Wall. Shrub or small tree, with very many 

 small, elliptic pinnules : fls. light yellow, with brilliant 

 red stamens protruding 3-5 in,, in terminal racemes ; 

 sepals hairy-friuged. S. Amer. B.M. 4006, as Poinci- 

 ana Gillie sii, Uook. F.S. 1:61. R.H. 1893, 400. G.C 

 III. 15:73. — Endures mild winters. A very showy and 

 worthy plant. 



pulch^rrima, Swtz. Barbadoes Pride. Barbadoes 

 Flower-pence. Dwarf Poinciana. Shrub, with deli- 

 cate, evergreen, mimosa-like Ivs., few scattered prickles, 

 and very gaudy red and yellow crisped fls. on the ends 

 of the new growth : stamens and style red, and long- 

 exserted. Generally distributed in the tropics. B. M. 

 995. — One of the most popular shrubs in warm climates, 

 as S. Fla. and S.Calif. There is a var. flava, with vel- 

 low fls. 



aa. Stamens not much exceeding the petals, or 



shorter. 



B. Lfts. small, %~l in. long, very obtuse. 



c. Shrub, unarmed. 



panndsa, Brandegee. Shrub, 2-4 ft. , with slender 

 branches clothed with white, deciduous bark : Ivs. de- 

 compound ; pinme 2—4, each with 4-6 oblong and refuse 

 lfts. : fls. yellow, showy ; pod glandular, 1-2-seeded. 

 Lower Calif. — A rapid-growing species, recently dis- 

 covered and introduced to the trade. 



cc. Shrubs or trees, prickly . 



D. Pod smooth : shrubs. 



sepi&ria, Roxbg. Pinnules about 10 pairs, oblong, 

 rounded on both ends : fls. yellow. India. — Furnishes 

 dye wood ; also used as a hedge plant. 



Japbnica, Sieb. & Zucc. Loose, spreading shrub, armed 

 with stout, recurved prickles : pinnules 7-9 pairs, ob- 

 long, very obtuse : fls. in large, panicle-like clusters, 

 canary-yellow, the stamens bright red. Japan. Gn. 

 40: 837. J.H. Ill, 34: 531. -Endures the winters in some 

 parts of England. The hardiest species of the genus, 

 probably hardy as far north as Washington. D.C. 



DD. Pod prickly : tree. 



echinata, Lam. Tree, with prickly branches, blunt, 

 elliptic, shining, alternate lfts., yellow fls., and spiny 

 pods ; stamens shorter than the petals. Brazil. — Yields 

 dye wood. 



