128 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



from seed ; and some by cuttings when they offer them- 

 selves, which is not very often, as these can only be 

 had from the branches, pieces of which are put in a 

 strong bottom heat to root. The seed should be sown 

 in the spring in deep seed-pans, filled with sandy peat 

 and maiden soil, two parts of the former to one part of 

 the latter, and put in a good brisk bottom heat. Cover 

 it from 1 to 3 inches according to the strength of the 

 seed. 



The Cactus (Cactacece) . 



In this genus we possess some of the most grotesque 

 as well as beautiful subjects to be found in natural 

 history. It is judiciously classed under several distinct 

 h eac i s — viz. Echino-cactus, Melo-cactus, Mammillaria, 

 and Epipkyllum. Under each of these we have a class 

 possessing some distinct peculiarity. In the first we 

 have what may be called the Hedgehog Cactus, 

 being all thorns ; in the second, one resembling the 

 Turk's Cap, or a deeply corrugated class with a round 

 top ; in the third, one that bears numerous small nipple- 

 like young ones ; and, under the fourth, we have that 

 with flat leaf-like branches, and which is the most 

 common. 



The cultivation of the Cactus may be considered 

 under two heads — viz. by -active stimulation during the 

 growing season, and by a perfect suspension of the 

 stimulating agents during the season of rest. The 

 active season is during the summer, and the resting 

 season is during the winter. The stimulating agents 

 are heat and liquid manure, which must be entirely 

 withheld from October until March, when they may be 

 renewed. 



The propagation of the Cactus tribes consists in 

 strikino- cuttings, by offsets, and by seed. All classes of 

 the Cactus produce offsets more or less ; but the first 

 three are the most remarkable in this respect, especially 

 the Melo-cactus and the Echino-cactus. All those that 

 produce these young ones, which are perfect in them- 

 selves, may be detached at any time, dried for a week 



