in the Collection of Mr. S. Siceetser. 403 



the E. truncatum, and it is a beautiful object when grafted; its nat- 

 urally slender and pendant habit is unfavorable to a vigorous 

 growth and showy display of blossoms; on a strong stock, it at- 

 tains a large size, and when in bloorn has an appearance altogether 

 unique. The other weak growing kinds may be grafted in the 

 same manner. 



With these additional inducements to heighten the beauty of a 

 collection, a taste for the plants is rapidly spreading, and, in a short 

 time, we trust all the finer ones will be found enriching the parlor, 

 and enhancing the beauty of the green-house, throughout the ear- 

 lier months of the year. New varieties will be constantly increas- 

 ing, which will make their cultivation still more interesting; and the 

 facility with which seedlings may be raised, is an inducement to 

 those who are fond of raising plants, to attempt the production of new 

 kinds. Their cultivation is also simple. Requiring less attention 

 than other plants, from their capability of withstanding drought, it is 

 not necessary that they should be constantly looked after, as is al- 

 ways the case with most plants, to prevent their being destroyed for 

 want of water. They may, indeed, be left the whole summer 

 through, without the least care whatever, and without administer- 

 ing any water during that season. On this account they are ex- 

 cellent plants for amateurs, who are generally from home a por- 

 tion of the time, and who have no gardener to attend to their 

 plants. A longer or shorter absence will make no difference to 

 the health of a collection of cactuses. 



But we have already exceeded the limits, to which we intend- 

 ed to confine these few preparatory remarks, and w'e call the at- 

 tention of our readers to the following list of species, which Mr. 

 Sweetser has kindly permitted us to publish. He has been some 

 time in getting up the collection, and has spared no pains to in- 

 clude every species which could be easily procured at home or 

 abroad. Few of the plants are over four years old; but many of 

 them have flowered the past summer very beautifully, and at the 

 present time Epiphyllum Ackermani/ and truncatum are coming 

 into bloom. Some have made rapid growths, and are very large 

 plants. The coming spring a fine blooin is anticipated, and sev- 

 eral new sorts, it is hoped, will open their flowers. 



With regard to the names there may be some inaccuracies, as 

 the plants have been received from various sources, and often the 

 same kinds under different names; and it is impossible to decide 

 upon some of them with a certainty until thev had flowered. Mr. 

 Sweetser hopes, however, to correct all the errors as speedily 

 as possible. 



The larger part of the following are two or more years old; 

 some have been lately added, and are yet small. But the ma- 

 jority are such as will probably flower under good management, 

 in tiie course of the next year or the year after. Those species 



