THE CACTUS FAMILY. 



387 



seen by the microscope), termed raphides; and these are so 

 abundant that, on biting a portion, they convey the idea of 

 cucumber dipped in sand. Their juice contains a red colour- 

 ing matter, which constitutes the basis of cochineal. 



Although from the leafless and unplant-like appearance of 

 many species of this family, they in no way resemble the 

 Gooseberry family, the two are nevertheless closely allied in 

 a botanical point of view, and the fruit of many of the Cactse 

 is as much esteemed and as abundant in warm as the 

 Gooseberry is in temperate countries. They became known 

 in this country as curious garden plants about the end of the 

 seventeenth and beginning of the eighteenth centuries ; and 

 in the early years of the present century the number of in- 

 troduced species recorded amounted to 24, known under 

 the popular names of Melon Thistle, Torch Thistle, Indian 

 Fig, and Creeping Cereus. About fifty years ago, several 

 showy species were introduced from Brazil, such as Cereus 

 speciosissimus^ C. speciosus, Epiphyllum truncatumy and 

 others. 



About the year 1830, private collections were formed in 

 this country, and through the rivalship of a few rich amateur 

 cultivators, their value rose highly — ten, fifteen, and even 

 twenty guineas being often given for individual plants. This 

 led to speculation, and great importations took place from 

 Mexico and other parts of America, to this country, as well 

 as to Germany ; and cultivators were not slow in giving 

 them specific names. They also became objects of study to 

 several botanists, who named and described them indepen- 

 dent of one another, thus creating a number of apparent 

 species, and causing much confusion in their names. The 

 number botanically described amounts to above 800 ; some 

 trade lists enumerate above 780 as being cultivated. During 

 the same period, the Kew collection was increased ; but after 

 much trouble and expense, the number in its best days of 

 what was considered to be really distinct species, amounted 

 to only 260, being about one-third of the number said to be 

 cultivated in Germany. 



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