82 CACTACEOUS PLANTS. 



exposed to the weather. In reference to the culture of this plant out of 

 doors Mr. D. Dewar, Superintendent of the herbaceous department, EoyaL 

 Gardens, Kew, writes me as follows : — 



^' Although the cultivation of hardy Cacti in the open air has not heem 

 BO successful as desired in some gardens, where artificially constructed posi- 

 tions have been given them, the result has been fairly satisfactory. Exposed 

 on the open rockery they will live, but our moist climate tries them severely, 

 especially in winter. Under projecting ledges, as seen at Floore, Weedon, 

 and where there is little chance of their being exposed to too much rainj. 

 they flower with remarkable freedom, but this plan requires material not 

 within the reach of all lovers of hardy plants. The best method of growing 

 these plants that I have seen, and which I am now practising, is simply 

 placing a small handlight in a specially dry and sunny position, placing 

 inside 2 inches depth of broken bricks, stones, and lime rubbish, planting 

 the Opuntias, or other Cactes, and leaving them unattended. Opuntia- 

 vulgaris grows vigorously under this treatment and flowers freely, and needs 

 scarcely any attention from January to December. The lights are never 

 taken off winter or summer. No water is given at any time after they are 

 established, and yet they are as healthy as possible. O. vulgaris is the 

 most common and the easiest to procure, but we have also 0. missouriensis, 

 O. Eafiaesquei, and others, all of them perfectly hardy and easily managed as- 

 described. O. vulgaris grows more rapidly than the others ; the joints are 

 oval, flat, covered with small leaves which come out in knots on the branches 

 and which soon fall, leaving a number of short bristly hooked spines. The- 

 branches spread near the ground, or trail upon it snake fashion, putting out 

 new roots at every joint as they go, and thus facilitating progress, seldom 

 rising more than G inches in height. As the plant begins to grow old the- 

 first-formed joints begin to get hard and dry, of a tough texture, and in- 

 clined to be fibrous or woody. Blank spaces are easily averted by pegging, 

 over some of the younger branches." 



O. Bafinesquei, Engelmann. — Quite a recent introduction is this hand- 

 some hardy Opuntia, for it is within the past twenty years that it made its- 

 debut in England. It has, however, become an established favourite in 

 gardens, as when in flower its beauty is amply sufficient to recommend the- 

 plant to the most fastidious. It somewhat resembles O. vulgaris, and the 

 latter is occasionally seen under this name ; but O. Rafinesquei has more- 

 elongated branches, fewer smaller spines, and the flowers, though about the 

 same size, are slightly paler and softer in colour. It is very floriferous, and. 

 being perfectly hardy it grows well on a rockery or a dry raised border, 

 where, during July and August, it will bear a succession of blooms each. 

 3 to 4 inches in diameter. If a position is prepared for it the soil should 

 consist of loam, sand, and plenty of finely broken bricks, as too much mois- 

 ture about the roots will do the plant more injury than will moderate frost. 

 The stock can be quickly increased, as the branches form roots if placed ia 

 Band under a frame. 



