CAC 



[168] 



C. pusi' lla (small) . Pale red. South Americ a 



1820. 

 ^-pyramida'lis (pyramidal). Mexico. 1835. 



quadra' ta (four-sided). Chile. 1827. 



quadrispi'na (four-spined). Mexico. 1838 



specie? sa (showy). Red. Chile. 1827. 



Stella! 'ta (starry). Pink. May. South 



America. 1815. 



strami'nea (straw-coloured). Red. June 



South America. 1811. 



tffnuis (slender). Pale yellow. May 



Mexico. 1830. 



tetraca'ntha (four-spined) . Rose. July. 



Mexico. 



turUna'ta (top-shaped). Striped. July. 



Mexico. 1838. 

 ~- viftula (oldish). Light scarlet. 1835. 



vivi'para (viviparous). Red. Louisiana. 



1811. 



Melo-ca'ctus (Turk's-Cap-Cactus.) 

 C. amatnus (lovely). Light scarlet. 1835. 



commu'nis (common). Red, July. West 



Indies. 1788. 



m'ridis (green). 1836. 



depre'ssus (depressed). Scarlet. Pernam. 



huco. 



macro,' ntha (large-spined) . White red. 



South America. 1820. 



meonaca'nthus (ohlong-spmedf). Jamaica. 



1835. 



placentifo'rmis (placenta- shaped). Red. 



Brazil. 



polyaca'ntha (many-spined). Brazil. 

 pyramida'lis (pyramidal). Red. Curacoa. 



1824. 



spi'nis-rtfbris (red-spined). 



There are many more species in all 

 the above subdivisions of Cactus men- 

 tioned in botanical works; but so little is 

 known about them that is certain that 

 we have omitted them. We think also, 

 that when this very numerous genus is 

 better known, many now considered 

 as species will be found to be a single 

 species at different periods of its growth. 



Culture. It is possible that under the 

 different names of Epiphyllum, Mamil- 

 laria, and melo-cactus we may see oc- 

 casion to detail a few extra points of 

 culture ; but we may observe here, that 

 there are features of cultivation common 

 to them all, namely, a high tempera- 

 ture and a somewhat moist atmosphere 

 when growing in summer; a dry at- 

 mosphere when ripening their growth ; 

 and a dry atmosphere dryness compa- 

 ratively at the roots and a low tempe- 

 rature, when in a state of rest. Though 

 a temperature of from 80 to 95 will 

 not be too high in the one case, one not 

 below 40 will suffice in the other. 



Echinocactiis culture. This group are \ 

 propagated at times by seed, which 



should be sown as soon as ripe in shal- 

 low pans and plunged in a hotbed ; by 

 offsets, which should be well dried at 

 the base before planting, and then 

 plunged into bottom heat. This method 

 of propagating should only be resorted 

 to in spring or summer ; all changing of 

 the soil, or repotting, should also be done 

 at that time, as, if done in winter, stag- 

 nation and decay are apt to ensue. Good 

 drainage constitutes an essential feature. 

 Soil, equal portions of sandy loam and 

 peat, and half parts of clear river or 

 silver sand, leaf moulder dried old cow- 

 dung, and brick rubbish, consisting, how- 

 ever, more of the brick broken than the 

 lime. In addition to this compost, when 

 potting offsets without roots, a little 

 silver sand may be advantageously 

 placed round them, and firmness be se- 

 cured by placing some slight pins of 

 wood round their base. In repotting it 

 is well to use a thick soft glove, to save 

 alike hands and spines ; and then it is 

 advisable to remove the most of the 

 soil as well as drainage, and any faulty 

 roots; holding the plant well up, and 

 shaking the compost with the other 

 hand carefully among the roots. "Water 

 at all times must be given with care ; but, 

 when growing in fine weather in sum- 

 mer, they will require a considerable 

 supply both at the roots and as vapour 

 in the atmosphere, with a high tempera- 

 ture. As soon as the spines change 

 colour, moisture must be gradually with- 

 held, the temperature lowered, and more 

 air given. Summer temp., 60 to 90 ; 

 winter, 40 to 50. 



Insects. The red spider seizes them 

 at times, and he must be started imme- 

 diately, either by covering the surface of 

 the pot and then placing your hand over 

 it, turning it topsy-turvy and drawing 

 the plant rapidly several times through 

 water at 1 20 ; or by dusting the plants 

 with flowers of sulphur; or, as alike 

 prevention and cure, fuming the house 

 ay placing sulphur on the hot water 

 ripes, or on a hot water plate kept on 

 Purpose. The most remarkable are the 

 E. stanesii and Viznaya, the monsters 

 br size lately introduced to Kew gar- 

 dens. 



(LTSLESTI'NA. (From ccekstis, celestial ; 

 n reference to its sky blue colour. Nat. 



