176 THE FANTASTIC CLAN 



diameter, with Its ribs of pale green well hidden by the dense 

 layer of Interlaced spines which are so prevalent In the 

 Ferocactus group. These dense spines are a gray rose-purple, 

 or a light yellow. The bell-shaped flowers are about three 

 Inches long and are composed of quite small oblong petals, 

 deep pink or red. This blending of colors In blossoms and 

 spines gives the plant a very pleasing appearance. It grows 

 best In sandy or gravelly soils and sunny exposures. 



How to grow 



Plant this Visnaglta In sandy or gravelly soil, preferably 

 early In spring in sunny exposures, water enough to keep 

 the soil moist during the growing period. Sow the seed in 

 May or June in a sandy loam In flats or pots with part shade, 

 and water occasionally to keep the soil moist. The plants 

 grow indoors or out and tolerate a temperature of twenty- 

 five degrees below freezing; in zero weather they should be 

 grown in dry sunny greenhouses or conservatories. 



Golden Spined Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus 



Rostii — Ferocactus Rostii) 



(Named Rostii In honor of E. P. Rost, who discovered 

 the plant) 



V 



How to identify and how it grows 



The Golden Spined Barrel Cactus grows singly or in small 

 clumps, from four to nine feet high with stems as much as 

 ten inches in diameter. Their fifteen to twenty-two ridges 

 are about two inches apart. The spines are grouped in 

 clusters about an inch apart, with six to nine radial bristles an 

 Inch and a half long which are cream-colored. There are 

 five to seven radial spines which are cross-rldged, nearly two 

 Inches long and a light yellow. The four central spines are 

 also cross-ridged, with the upper ones incurved and erect 



