2l8 GENERAL REVIEW. 



raised at Lambton Castle (see 'Gardener/ 1876, p. 80). Out 

 of the first batch of 30 seedlings the best was that here figured, 

 and which has been named the Lambton Castle Pine-apple. 

 Mr Hunter fertilises artificially, and recommends that the fruit 

 should be allowed to partially decay, in order to give time for 

 the plumping up of the seeds. 



THE CACTUS FAMILY (Cactaceee). 



This order consists of succulent spinose shrubs, for the 

 most part natives of South America, where some of the 

 columnar species of Cereus, as C. peruvianus and C. giganteus, 

 attain a height of from 20 to 30 feet. The number of known 

 genera is said to be eighteen, and about 600 species are known. 

 Two species only are of economic interest, viz., Opuntia coch- 

 inellifera (Nopal plant), largely cultivated in the Mexican States 

 as the food-plant of the cochineal insect (Coccus cacti}, well 

 known as affording a beautiful crimson dye ; and O. vulgaris, 

 or Prickly Pear, which is cultivated for its grateful sub-acid, 

 gooseberry-like fruits in barren rocky parts of North Africa 

 and Southern Europe. We have no work in English devoted 

 to these interesting plants as yet ; but M. Labouret's ' Mono- 

 graphic des Cactees ' is handy for reference, and contains a 

 full account of most of the species. Cacti are easily propagated 

 as a rule ; and the following general directions are by Mr J. 

 Croucher, who is well known as one of the most intelligent 

 cultivators of these and other allied plants : 



" Propagation. The genera Rhipsalis, Phyllocactus, Cereus, 

 and Opuntia are easily increased by cuttings, which should be 

 taken off in May, and laid in the sun till rooted, when they 

 should be potted and watered carefully, though Rhipsalis and 

 Phyllocactus may be potted at once, and kept dry about four- 

 teen days, when they will be rooted, and may be watered ; 

 Echinocactus and Mammillaria must be increased by offsets." 

 All the finer kinds of Mammillarias as M. crucigera, M. 

 scopa, M. scopa Candida, M. scopa cristata, M. declivis, and 

 others may be grafted on Cereus Napoleonis, C. tortuosus, or 

 C. serpentinus, as stocks. When grafted, they are cleaner and 

 better than when on their own roots. Echinocereus pectiniferus, 

 E. pectiniferus cristatus, and others, may be worked on C. 

 peruvianus ; and the larger Echinocacti do well on the strong- 

 growing columnar forms of Cereus, two or three stems being 

 used where one is not sufficient. " Echinocacti require 

 their tops to be cut off, which must be exposed to the sun 



