84 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



at once, and fills the whole neighborhood with its wonderful perfume." 

 A letter from Mexico, describing a Triangularis, says: "Surround- 

 ing the house on every side was a gigantic Cereus Triangularis in fan- 

 tastic shapes and shades, with innumerable magnificent flowers, of pure r 

 spotless white, bedewed with watery pearls that twinkled under the 

 moon's gaze as so many bright diamonds. It was impossible to num- 

 ber those large white flowers; every sprout had a flower; all the tri- 

 angular vine was mantled in white." 



The Echinocactus is distinguished by its symmetrical, round or 

 oblong stem, and- beautifully-colored spines, which sometimes are very 

 long, and twist and curl themselves around the plant; others are so 

 short that they barely cover the lengthwise ridges upon the stem. Many 

 grow to an enormous size, have handsome pink, yellow, or purple 

 flowers, and edible fruits. These require plenty of sunshine, light, and 

 air, and no water during the winter season, only at growing time. The 

 flowers grow from the top of the plants. Many of the Echinocacti 

 change the color of the spines to pink, red, and purple when the plants 

 are watered, returning to their neutral tints when they become dry. 

 The finest Echinocacti are Grusoni, with yellow spines ; Le Contei, with 

 red and white spines; and Cylindracens, with spines of red, pink, and 

 white. The Echinocereus grow singly and in clusters, are mostly oblong, 

 and flowers are white, red, purple, and yellow, from the sides of the 

 stems. They often have small flowers in a circle around the plant, 

 opening only in sunshine. CaBSpitosus and Candicans the former with 

 its wonderfully fragrant blossoms, and the latter with very beautiful 

 flowers are among the best Echinocereus. 



Echinopsis are low and globular, and very perfectly formed. There 

 are only a few of this variety, the best known being Eyriesii and Mulere 

 white and pink. The Echinopsis have generally small spines, and 

 are particularly distinguished by their tubular flowers, which are very 

 fragrant, the Eyriesii being a night-bloomer. 



Mammilarias are a large family, very pretty and perfect in their 

 round and oblong forms, and carry their spines at the apex of their 

 tubercles; flowers are white, pink, yellow, and purple, opening only in 

 the sunshine. Lasiacantha looks like a ball of tiny white feathers, the 

 spines are so beautifully formed. Macromeris, Microthele, and Minima 

 are symmetrical with the spines in minute white stars all over them. 

 Any one who loves what is beautiful in nature can not help loving the 

 little Mammilarias, which are the gems of a cactus collection. 



All of the oblong and oval among the cacti require very little water. 

 These should be kept dry all winter, and only wet in their growing 

 season the spring and early summer. The soil should be very sandy, 

 mixed with old lime, and very small pots should be used, half filled with 

 stones. 



