ECHINOCEBEUB. 61 



regularity and beanty of their spines, the plants gionped under the 

 head Echinocereus are somewhat suggestive of the Mamillarias, or in a 

 few cases of the Echinocactuses. The stems are mostly cylindrical, of 

 moderate height, much dwarfer .than the majority of Cereuses, and 

 approaching to a semiglobose form ; they are marked by longitudinal 

 ridges either straight or spiral, and these bear the fascicles of spines 

 sometimes in two series, differently coloured. The flowers differ very 

 much in size, colour, and beauty ; some do not exceed an inch in 

 diameter, and others are fully i inches across ; some are green or dull 

 yellow, while others are of the brightest yellow, rose, or purple. In a 

 horticultural point of view they are very interesting, for several of the 

 most ornamental and free-flowering species are hardy in dry positions, 

 and they all succeed in a cool frame or house, being therefore especially 

 suitable for amateurs who have no convenience for growing the tropical 

 Cacteae. Another important and valuable quality is the length of time 

 the flowers last, in which respect they are quite different from the 

 majority of their allies. Some will expand every day for a week, and in 

 a few exceptional cases the flowers will continue opening at intervals for 

 twelve or fourteen days. They also display a great partiality for sun- 

 light, and generally open about mid-day or early in the afternoon, closing 

 before dusk. The fruits of most of the species are edible, and pleasantly 

 flavoured with the peculiar Gooseberry-like acidity, which it has been 

 already stated is characteristic of the family ; and further, some of them 

 assume rich tints in ripening that are very ornamental. 



The culture of the Echinocereuses is very simple, as where they are 

 grown out of doors it is chiefly necessary to protect them from excessive 

 rain or stagnant moisture in the soil, as they will endure very low 

 temperatures, provided the soil and air be dry, without the slightest 

 injury. This is the great difficulty with which we have to contend with 

 in growing them out of doors in England ; and it is safest to have a cool 

 frame for their winter quarters, or a suitable covering it they cannot be 

 readily moved, Mr. E. G. Loder, Weedon, Northampton, has been very 

 ■successful with these plants, and on several occasions he has shown 

 groups of the most attractive species at Kensington, when they caused 

 ■quite a sensation, as few are aware of their beauty when in flower. The 

 same gentleman fully explained his system of treatment at one of the 

 evening meetings of the Eoyal Horticultural Society at Barlington 

 House, the substance of which is the same as that indicated in the 

 preceding notes ; but plants have been left out at Weedon unprotected 

 throughout severe winters. The Echinocereus in common with a few 

 Echinocactuses and Opuntias do not, however, succeed on a level surface, 

 and when placed out they should have a dry sloping bank near a wall, 



