160 



niO( KF.niN(iS OF TlIK 



ciisioiKilly pound dowii (liroui;h lliosc inverted jjots to irripjcate 

 tlio soil, aiul to prt'MMit the lu'iit from dryini^ it too nnich. Tlie 

 shelf beiiij^ uniforiidy level, the wjiler runs e(|uully under the 

 soil amoujx the einders ; and in the midst of the growing- season 

 the whole bed is saturated by this simjde means, in imitation ot 

 the natiiral condition of the plants during the rainy season. 



Mr. Beaton thinks that by a proper system of bottom heat,* 

 Ciieti iuii;ht be i;ro\vn in frames in this country to ^reat ad- 

 vantage, so as to e(|ual, if not excel our continental nei{j;hbours. 

 To those fond of L;reen, hcallhy and symmetrical Cacti, seedlings 

 and ollsets are far ])referal)le to imported plants, as we seldom 

 receive the latter without some of their bottom spines being 

 dead or otherwise discoloured by time or circumstances. This 

 is more ])articularly the case with Mummillariic and Mclocacti. 



With regard to the soil in which Cacti grow, the author stated 

 it to be as various as the climates they inhabit. Some grow in 

 stiff yellow clay mixed with rough gravel, and some in fine 

 stronp; loam of diiferent textures and colours : others are found 

 in all the kinds of light soil, in peat, and among chalk and lime- 

 stone, and even on the sterile lava of volcanic districts. In the 

 opinion of the author the general health of a collection c>f Cacti 

 dei)ends more on a jjroper system of drainage than on the kind 

 of compost used. Rough pointed crocks are found to be too 

 porous for drainage, and would soon destroy the delicate roots 

 in winter. In a general way rough coal cinders will do well ; 

 but for particular favourites, equal quantities of pounded oyster- 

 shells and coal clinkers, is by far the best drainage that can be 

 used, keeping the finer parts towards the top. A layer of moss 

 placed on the drainage, as is done for other plants with advan- 

 tage, would soon kill the finer sorts of Cacti, and must never be 

 used for them. When fresh potted, water is withheld for several 

 days, in order to let any roots, which may have been broken, have 

 time to dry ; otherwise, if moisture is applied to the wounds 

 when fresh, death will soon be the consequence. 



The author then proceeded to describe the apparatus by means 

 of which a Cactus absorbs its food. If you let a young soft 

 seedling Cactus get so dry that it begins to shrivel, and then cut 

 off the point of the tap root and place it in a coloured liquid, it 

 will soon imbibe the liquid ; and if you afterwards cut it length- 

 ways through the centre, you will see the beautiful system by 

 which it receives its nourishment, forcibly displayed by tlie 

 coloured veins or vessels in the fleshy pulp ; some of these 

 vessels are so small that you could hardly touch them with the 

 point of a needle. Such being the extreme delicacy of their in- 

 ternal structure, the necessity of handling them with care must 

 be obvious ; yet a collector, although instructed not to twist or 



* The best, most simple, and most practical mode of supplying bottom- 

 heat by moans of hot-water, is that detailed byJ. Rogeks, Ksq., F.H.S., of 

 Seven Oaks, Kent in the Gardener's Magazine, Vol. XVI. p. 139. 



