162 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



any excessive wet ; this applies to tlie hard}' as well as the green- 

 house kinds ; to the latter belong the larger part of this class. 

 CJood turfy loam is the best material in wliieh to grow them, and 

 good drainage is indispensable. They are propagated from seed, 

 b3'^livision, and from cuttings, in just the same way as an}- ordi- 

 nary plants, save that they must be kept rather dry. 



We have quite a variety of Succulent Plants. Out of the some 

 fortj" species and varieties of Cereus, especially noteworthy is C. 

 giganteus, which grows from forty to sixtv feet in height, and must 

 l)roduce a peculiar effect when seen in its native haunts. Under 

 cultivation we seldom see any large specimens. C. Thurberi has 

 a somewhat similar habit, but does not reach that height. C. 

 phoeniceiis, C. ccespitosus, C. Berlandieri, and C. procumbens are 

 of spreading habit, and have large showy flowers. 



The Echinocactus, with some thirt}' species and varieties, is very 

 showy and interesting. As a rule all plants of tliis genus have 

 globular forms and long spines. E. bicolor, horizonthalonuis, 

 Emoryi, longehamatus, WisUzeni, and polycephalus are the best 

 species. 



The genus Mammillaria is represented by thirty-seven species 

 and varieties ; all nice and compact plants, usually with short 

 spines. The most attractive are pusilla, pedinata, radiosa, re- 

 curvata, and Grahami. 



Of the Opuntia we have about seventy species and varieties, and 

 out of that number three kinds are hardy, namely: 0. vulgaris, 

 0. Missouriensis, and 0. Rafinesquii \ tiie latter two with numerous 

 varieties. 0. fragilis, 0. Camnnchica, and 0. Pes-Corvi require 

 some protection. All the rest are more or less greenhouse 

 l)lants, like all the representatives of Cereus, Echinocactus, and 

 Mammillaria. 



Several Agaves are natives. A. Virginica is a half hardy her- 

 baceous plant, while A. Deaserti, A. Shawii, A. Utahensis, and A. 

 Newberryi require to be grown under glass. 



Dasylirion Texaimm and D. Wheeleri are good plants for the 

 greenhouse. 



The same ma)^ be said of Cotyledon farinosa^ C. Peacoclcfi, and 

 C. pulverxdenta. 



The Yucca, a genus represented in this country by about a 

 dozen species and varieties, is very interesting and useful, on 

 account of its ornamental foliage as well as its larjje spikes of 



