C A C T U S. 



C. porlulaeifollus, Linn. Spec. {Opuntta, Plum. Sp. 6. ic. fowing the fetds in pots of light fandy cartli, and plunginp 



197. fig. I.) "Stem round, woody, fpinous ; leaves thtm in the bark bed ; when, after the plants have advanced 



wedge-fhapcd, retufe." About tlic fize of a common a lilllc in growth, they fliould be pricked out into f paratc 



apple-tree. 7W/«^ thethicknefs of a man's thigh, with fprcad- very fmall pots, and plunging them in the bark bed, where 



ing, fpinous branches. Leaves alternate, in fize and con- they moflly make great progrtff, though it \i often feme 



fiftence like thofe of C. perefl<ia ; witli a folitary fpine at years before they acquire any confidcrahic fize or growth ; 



the bafe, a little longer than t]ie cluftercd ones on the or by fetting the yoinig plants wliich iffiie from the fides 



branches. /^/oTwr.f at the ends of the upper branches, pro 

 bably monoicous, purplidi, rofaceous : petals rounded, a 

 little larger than a finger nail. Fni'it globular, about the 

 fize of a common apple, without the tufts of leaves which 

 are found on C. perc(l<ia, greenifli, with a whitifli, mucilagi- 

 nous, acid pulp. iS'f^'^.f numerous, dark-coloured. 

 All the known fpecies are perennial 



of the old ones in pots of the fame fort of earth, in tlic 

 fpring or autumn, managing them in tlie fame way as thofe 

 raifed from feeds. But in order to have large plants at 

 once, they may be procured from the WeR Indies in tubs 

 of dry compoll rubbifli, care being taken to guard thtm 

 well from cold and moillure. On tiieir arrival they fliould 

 be planted out in pots, and plunged in the bark bed till 



Cactus, in Gardening, comprehends difiercnt curious pcrR-ftly rooted, and become ilrong plants 

 plants of the fucculent exotic kinds, of ftrangc and fingu- Thefc plants fhould always be placed upon the tops of 



lar growths, cultivated in this climate for curiofity in ftoves the flues or fiielves of the hot-houfcs in winter, and in the 



and green-houfes. They may be divided into the melon- bark beds in fummer ; very moderate waterings being given 



thilUe, the torch-thiflle, and creeping cercus, and the Indian in very hot weather, but none at all in the winter feafon. 



fig kinds. The fpecies principally cultivated in the firft 

 fort, are C. mamillaris, fmailer caftus, or melon-thiftle ; C. 

 muh-caclus, melo-caAus, great melon-thiftle, or turks' cap. 

 In the fecond kind, Q.tctragmius, four-angled upright ccreus, 

 or torch-thiftle ; C penlagonus, five-angled upright torch- 

 thiftle ; C. hexagontis, fix angled torch-thiftle; C. heplagonus, 

 feven-angled upright torch-thiftle ; C. repandus, flender-up- 

 right torch-thilUe ; C. lanuginofus, woolly upriglit torch- 

 thiftle ; C. penivianus, Peruvian upright torch-thiftle ; C. 

 royeiii, Royen's upright torch-thiftle ; C. granJiflorus, great 

 flowering creeping cereus ; Q,. flageUifuvnus , pink flowering 

 creeping cereus ; C. tf'iangularis , triangular cereus, or 

 ftrawberry pear. And in the third fort 

 mon Indian fig, or prickly pear; C. _y?( 

 Indian fig; Q.. tuna, great Indian fig, or prickly pear ; C. 

 coccinellifer, cochineal Indian fig ; C. ciirajfavlcus, curalToa, 

 leaft; Indian fig, or pin-pillow; Q. fpinofijfwuis, clufter-fpined 

 Indian (ig ; Q,. phyUanlhus, fpleen-wort leaved Indian fig ; 

 C. alalus, narrow long jointed Indian fig; Q. monilifarmts, 

 neck-lace Indian fig ; C. pcrejila, Barbadocs goofcbcrry. 



The two firft forts are plants of a very fingular ftruiture, 

 haviflg much the form of a large melon, witiiout ftems, 

 branches, or leaves, fitting in a clofe manner to the furface 

 of the earth, and differing in height from a foot to a yard, 

 being deeply ribbed longitudinally in fome forts, and in all 

 clofely armed with ftrong fpines. They are perennial, both 

 in root and top, continuing many years ; affording orna- 

 ment and variety in the ftoves of hot-houfcs. Each fpecies 

 has feveral varieties. 



The fecond fort alfo affords plants of highly curious 

 fucculent growths, in fome of the fpecies and varieties rifing 

 to a confiderable height, and producing flowers of great 

 beauty ; and in others creeping or trailing to some diftance, 

 or hanging down over the fides of the pots that contain 

 them — affording much variety in this way, as well as by 

 their elegant and curious flowers, efpecially in fome of the 

 kinds, as the grand'tjlorus, and fome others. The fix-angled 

 torch-thiftle, and fmalltr creeping cereus, are the leaft 

 tender. 



In the third fort, the plants are likcwife highly curious 

 from their flcfliy fucculent jointed growths, and being befet 



as tlicy are very fucculent plants, and quickly rot by 



moifturc. 



Method of Culture in the Cereus or Torch Thijlle Kind. 

 I'hefe plants are conftantly increafedby planting the cut- 

 tings of branches, *hich have been l.;id in a dry place fome 

 weeks for the moifturc to exhale, and the wounded parts 

 to lie healed over, in fmall pots in the fummer feafon, filled 

 with a compoft conftituted of one tiiird light earth, the 

 fame quantities of fea-fand and fifted lime rubbifh, well 

 mixed together for fome length of time before it is made 

 ufe of, plunging them in the bark hot-bed of the (love ; 

 fome rather coarfe gravel or fliells being previoufly placed 

 C. opuntia, com- in the bottoms of the pots to prevent the flagnation of 

 ■cus Indica, oblong moillure. 



In the upright forts, the cuttings for this ufe inay be 

 provided by taking oR' the tops of fuch kinds as are wanted; 

 the plants afterwards throwing out ihoots below, fo as to 

 furnifli plentiful fupplits annually. But in the creeping- 

 forts, as there arc various ftalks and branches, thefc may 

 be taken oft" in cuttings of from three to five or fix inchci 

 in length, and be planted out in the fame manner as the 

 above. 



About the beginning or middle of Auguft, the plants, 

 after being raifed in this manner, fliould have air given 

 them by degrees, in order to harden them againft winter, 

 but not be wholly expofed either to it, or the fun ; and to- 

 wards the end of September removed into the ftove, or 

 green-houfe, for the winter, during which feafon they muft; 

 not have much water. The yo'.mg plants fliould conftantly 

 have a dry fituation in winter, as they imbibe the greatelt 

 part of their nourifhment from the air, in order to "prevent 

 their roots from rotting ; and fliould not be expofed in the 

 open air, cveu in fummer, unlefs under flielter, as rains are 

 very injurious to them. Nor fliould the creeping forts be 

 expofed too much to the open air, even in the hotteft fea- 

 fons ; but, if they be defigncd to flower in winter, be kept 

 very warm, and have no water given them at- that period. 



The great flowering creeping cereus, being a tender plant, 

 requires a warm Hove to proteft it, in which it may be 

 trained againft the walls, or upon flicks. But the fix-an- 

 gled, and fmall fort, with pink-coloured leaves, are not fo 



with ftiarp fpines: in many of tlie kinds moft; of the fpe- tender, being capable of bting preferved in a good green- 

 <:its, except the firft, are lefs hardy than thofe of any of houfe, or when placed under a hot -bed frame, in the au- 

 tumn, winter, and very early fpring months. 



the other two kinds. They, however, produce much va- 

 riety in fl;ove colkftions among other plants of fimilar 

 growths. 



Method of Culture 'in the Melon-Th'flle Kind. 

 Thefe plants may be incrcaftd with facility, either by 



Method of Cul'nre in the Indian Fig Kind. 

 Thefe plants are capable of being readily increafed durin" 

 the cariy fummer months, by cuttings of the joints of the 

 branche? taken off, and planted in pots of light fandy com- 



4 Pi pod. 



