pkopagatiox of cacte^. 



179 



we are not aware of any other mode, than that of obtaining them from 

 their native countries, or by diligently endeavouring to obtain seeds of 

 those specimens that flower in the European gardens. 



ECHiyOCACTUS. 



This section of Cactece, in many instances, produce offsets in abundance; 

 and many of them flower and produce seeds, from which a supply is ob- 

 tained. Some few of them admit of having their tops cut oflT; but 

 when this can be avoided, the better, as it not only disfigures the 

 plant ever after, but there is a considerable hazard run of losing it 

 altogether. 



CEREUS. 



This extensive and fine- flowering genus are all most readily increased 

 by cuttings, excepting those which have but one stem, such as C. senilis, 

 grandis, and others, to obtain which it is necessary to take the tops 

 oflf as above mentioned. The others, which send up several stems, or 

 divide themselves into branches, are readily propagated &y the ordinary 

 means. 



Cereus speciosissimus is certainly one of the most splendid of all plants, 

 and is both easily cultivated and flowered. It is propagated by cuttings, 

 which should be left in a diw, cool place for a few days after being taken 

 from the parent plant, before they are planted, for if this precaution is 

 not taken, there will be great danger of theii* rotting, instead of sending 

 out roots. Light, sandy soil, or hght loam, with a considerable portion of 

 lime rubbish, broken fine, mixed with it, is the most proper soil in which 

 to root all the Cactus tribe. They will requu"e scarcely any water until they 

 begin to gi'ow, after which they tn^U requu'e it in considerable quantity. 

 These plants, by good cultivation, may be speechly grown to a ven»- large 

 size ; but like all other plants required of a large size, they must have 

 abundance of food and plenty of pot room. A plant of this sort was 

 grown by one of the most successfid cultivators in Scotland, the late 

 Mr. Henderson, of AYoodhall, in a few years' tune, to a sufficient size to 

 cover a trelhs of eighty-four square feet, and produced the amazing 

 number of tliree hundi-ed flowers, all expanded at the same time. This 

 plant grew in a pot, in a soil composed of two parts rich loam, three of 



