402 Jl Catalogue of Cactuses, Opuntias, Cereuscs, ^c. 



found in only choicer collections in the green-houses and 

 stoves of amateurs. 



The uninteresting appearance of most of the species has induc- 

 ed many, who cultivate flowers, to imagine that the blossoms 

 could not possibly be of sufficient splendor to entitle them to 

 their notice and care; little suspecting that beneath such uncouth 

 and grotesque forms lay concealed the rich and gorgeous coloring 

 displayed in the C. speciosissimus — the light and mellow tints of 

 the C. grandiflorus — the rosy hues of the Epiphyllum speciosum 

 — the snowy corols of the Echinocactus Eyriesii — or even the 

 monstrous though delicate blossoms of the C triangularis, w'hich 

 has only flowered within two or three years in this country, and 

 not until 1834 in England. The elegance of the blossoms of 

 either of them need only to be once seen to ensure at least part 

 of them, with many others nearly as fine, a place in every col- 

 lection of plants, having any pretensions to beauty. 



Within a short period English cultivators have attempted with 

 this tribe, as they have with many others, the raising of new kinds 

 by hybridization; and the same success has attended their ef- 

 forts which has characterized their experiments with the gerani- 

 um, the camellia, and other plants. Many of these hybrid pro- 

 ductions are now to be found in the trade, and they have added 

 much to the brilliancy of a collection. Some of the more splen- 

 did are Epiphyllum Ackermanfi major, Cereus Jenkinsonf, num- 

 bers one, two and three, C. Mallasoni, Smithii, Vandesii, &c. 

 &c. The first named, is a variety only excelled by the C. spe- 

 ciosissimus, between which and E. speciosum, it was produced; 

 the different varieties of Jenkinsoni, though somewhat resembling 

 each other, are, however, very beautiful plants and free flowerers. 

 Mallasoni, and Smithn are said to be showy, though we have 

 never seen them; C. Vandesicc is similar to Jenkinsoni. Some 

 of our nurserymen and amateurs have raised seedlings, by hy- 

 bridization, which are said to be beautiful varieties. Mr. Feast, 

 of Baltimore, has several in his catalogue of plants, for which he 

 charges a high price, and from hence we infer that they are very 

 elegant. Mr. Hogg, of New York, has also raised a few seedlings, 

 which we believe are desirable kinds. Other cultivators have 

 made atlemj)ts, but the plants have not yet attained a flowering 

 size. 



The operation of grafting performed upon the different robust 

 growing species, has created more interest in the tribe, and added 

 a new feature to their cultivation. Tliat old and pretty species, 

 Epiphyllum truncatum, has been grafted upon the Pereskm, the 

 Cereus triangularis, Opuntia brasiliensis. &c., and the success 

 which has attended the experiments upon each, has been com- 

 plete. We have heretofore noticed these practices, and they will 

 be found recorded by a reference to our pages. We have seen 



