32 CACIAOEOnS PLANTS. 



are therefore not readily propagated in that way. When, however, 

 the npper part is injured, or in the case of the columnar species if that 

 portion is cut off, the lower part of the stem often produces several 

 shoots like other Caoteje, and these can be treated as previously advised 

 for offsets. In Mexico and elsewhere in North America certain 

 species are very abundant in particular districts, some growing amongst 

 the grass and scarcely visible, and travellers relate that where these 

 are injured by fires or cattle they form a great number of shoots, 

 becoming closely branched tufts or cushions of considerable size. The 

 majority of the species can be easily grafted upon the Cereus or other 

 genera except the Opuntias, to which they do not unite readily. Graft- 

 ing is, however, unnecessary in most cases, as, except the very delicate 

 species or abnormal crested varieties, they are best on their own roots. 

 A few years ago Mr. Peacock had an interesting specimen of E. Pottsi, 

 which was grafted upon three stems of Cereus tortuosus, and being 

 raised several inches above the surface of the soil it had a very strange 

 appearance. 



SELECT SPECIES. 



In so large a genus it is obvious that only a few can be named in these 

 notes, but some of ths most distinct of these in cultivation have been 

 selected. Collections in general do not include perhaps more than a fourth 

 of the entire number known. 



EcHiNOCACTUS BREVIHAMATDS, Engelmann. — A pretty and distinct 

 species from San Pedro, very noticeable for the prominent globular tuber- 

 cles, which might almost cause it to be taken for a MamiUaria. The stem 

 is cylindrical, 5 to 6 inches high, and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. The spines 

 are in two series, those of the ray twelve, half to three-quarters of an inch 

 long, the central one 1 inch long, hooked at the point and yellowish brown 

 in colour. The flowers are about 1 inch long, of a pale rose tint, but have 

 a deeper coloured mid-vein, which brightens the flowers considerably. 



E. CERATIOTES, Otto. — An elegant plant, which from its columnar growth 

 and numerous rounded ridges has a very distinct appearance in a collection. 

 The best specimens at Kew are 2 feet high, 8 inches in diameter at the 

 base, and nearly as much at the top, except where young growth has been 

 recently made. The ridges are twenty or more in number, half an inch 

 deep, nearly as much across, somewhat rounded, and deep green. The 

 spines are in clusters of tvvelve or more, 1 inch apart on the ridges, seven 

 or eight of the outer spines being white, fine, and hair-like, four or five 

 inner ones being rigid, 1 inch long, and of a bright reddish colour on the 

 young growth, which has a, pretty efEect. It is a Chilian plant, and has 

 been in cultivation for more than thirty years, but is rather scarce. 



E. CYLINDEACEUS. — A Mexican species of formidable appearance, fiir- 



