PHYLIX)CACTUS. 25 



Horticultural Society held in the Temple Gardens in 1898. The 

 Succulent-house at Kew also contains annually an attractive display 

 of these plants. Many new varieties have been bred, and there are 

 at least a hundred with distinctive names. 



Propagation. 



The whole plant may be divided at the base, or cuttings of the 

 branches may be used ; the latter, after having been dried by 

 leaving their bases exposed to the air for a day or two, should be 

 planted in small pots filled with very sandy soil, placed on a sunny 

 shelf near the glass, and sprinkled overhead daily till rooted. 

 Seeds, which are sometimes produced by cultivated plants, should 

 be gathered as soon as the fleshy fruits are ripe, and sown in a pot 

 of light, porous soil, in a warm frame or a greenhouse. 



P. Akermanni. 



Stem cylindrical at an early age, and clothed with little 

 clusters of spiny hairs , branches broad, rather thin, the margins 

 waved and notched ; the flowers are 6 inches in diameter ; tube 

 2 inches long, with a few small scales scattered over its surface ; petals 

 wavy and pointed ; colour rich scarlet, with a satin-like lustre. June 

 and July. One of the best-known, being cultivated as an ornamental 

 greenhouse plant. Small plants, a foot high, and bearing from two 

 to six flowers used to be supplied through Covent Garden Market 

 to cos term ongers, who, owing to their large, brilliant flowers, always 

 sold them at a good profit. A number of handsome and distinct 

 hybrids have been raised between this and other species. As a 

 compact- growing and free- flowering Cactus P. Aktrmanni ^Fig. 8) 

 can be specially recommended. 



P. anguliger. 



A species distinguished by notches on the stems like tho 

 teeth of a saw, and by its erect stiff habit. The flowers are 

 produced near the apex of the branches ; tube curved inches long ; 

 the whorl of pure white petals 6 inches across ; stamens, few ; stigma, 

 large, ten-rayed. The flowers (Fig. 9) are developed in December 

 and January, and have a delicious odour. Introduced in 1837 from 

 Mexico. 



P. crenatus. 



Without doubt this is a very beautiful species, rivalling 

 in the size and fragrance of its blossoms the night- flowering Cerens 

 gra idtflorus. Stems about 2 feet, the upper portion only being 

 winged margins serrated ; flower tube 4 inches long, brown-green, as 

 also are the sepals ; petals 4 inches long, their points curved 

 inwards ; pale cream-coloured. The flowers are developed in June, 

 and are very fragrant. Introduced from Honduras, in 1839. This 

 is one of the parents of some of the best hybrids which have been 

 raised both in this country and in America. 



