158 



I'iKu Ki:ju\(.s or rut: 



country, unil ll r iK-auty or sinmilaiily of most t)t the sptiics as 

 objects of ornaiiu'iil or interest, the a'ltlior proeeedeil to point 

 out their geographical di>lrihution, ;i8 the lirst fact to be con- 

 sidered with reference to their proper treatment. 



The ^ranii eniporiuni for ( acli is Mexico, hut vast nuni])ers 

 are found in all latitudes of Stuith America, from the nortli of 

 Mexico to the soutlicrn plains of Chili. Some have been met 

 with beyond both these limits, and even in the old world ; but 

 they are not sulliciently numerous to alleet the general truth of 

 the above view of their natural disti ibution. A few species in- 

 habit the sea coast on both shores of the new continent ; espe- 

 cially trom the mouth of the great La l*lata to the Mexican 

 giilph. Melocactus communis, M. nmccnus, M. meonacanthus, 

 Mammillaria glomerata, and some line Ccreuses and Oimntias, 

 were found f:;r()wing dow n to the water's edge in the hottest part 

 of the globe } which, according to IIumholdt, is from ('umana 

 to La Guayra, and the (Ji'^f of Maracaybo. Along the same 

 coast such species occur abundantly in ojjjn arid places • and 

 the plants seem to enjoy the rellection of the sun's rays from 

 a naked soil, in addition to the scorching heat of the atmos])hcre. 

 From this region of excessive and perpetual heat, np to the 

 limits of perpetual snow, or nearly so, some species of Cactus or 

 Opuntia are to be met with, at every degree of elevation. In 

 the latitudes of the periodical rains, the Cacti are deluged for 

 three, four, or five months at a time, while they are completely 

 dry for the rest of the year. They may be said to enjoy a per- 

 petual spring in some localities, such as, for example, in the 

 valhes of the " tierra templada" in Mexico, or in the higher 

 vallies of New Granada, and in the neighbourhood of Quito, and 

 other places of similar temperature ; and a few Cereuses are said to 

 be found in that part of the Peruvian coast where rain is un- 

 known. Mr. Herbert raised seedlings from seeds gathered on 

 the Andes of Cusco 13"^ S. lat. at an elevation of nearly ]5,00;> 

 feet, where the mean tenpperature is 46^, on the Andes of Bo- 

 livia, at an altitude of 14,600 feet and still further south in lat. 

 19" where there reigns a mean temperature of 45". 



The author then proceeded to state that the Alpine species 

 should receive the treatment of the heath house and the Melo- 

 cacti, which inhabit the intratropical shores, a higher temperature 

 than the rest of the family j for the latter the mean temperature 

 of 55" is necessary even in winter ; but if they are kept perfectly 

 dry from October to March they will live in a much lower degree. 

 The great mass of the species do perfectly well in a temperature 

 from 45*^ to 50° if they are kept near the glass. The only at- 

 tention they require in winter is to receive plenty of air. If they 

 are kept warmer in winter their growth is not quite suspended, 

 and they will require to be occasionally watered. 



Mr. Beaton next adverted to the management of newly imported 



