By Mr, D. Beaton. 



405 



frames in summer, are obliged to take them up in the autumn to 

 preserve them from the severity of their winters, which must give 

 their plants an unnatural periodical check. To those fond of green, 

 healthy and symmetrical Cacti, seedlings and offsets are far pre- 

 ferable to imported plants, as we seldom receive the latter without 

 some of their bottom spines being dead, or yellow spots, or being 

 thus discoloured in some measure by time or circumstances. This 

 is more particularly the case with the Mammillariae and Melocacti, 

 kinds which often grow among grass and low herbage that dis- 

 figures them, and which it is the most desirable to have of a healthy 

 appearance and fine shape. 



The soil in which Cacti grow in their natural state, is as 

 various as the climates they inhabit. Some grow in stiff yellow 

 clay mixed with rough gravel, and some in fine strong loams of 

 different textures and colours : others are found in all the kinds 

 of light soil, in peat, and among chalk and lime-stone, and others 

 on the sterile lava of volcanic districts. I have tried many kinds 

 of soils and composts for these plants with almost equal suc- 

 cess, and I have some which have been growing in pure sand for 

 the last eighteen months, and which look just as well as others of 

 the same species which have been growing in a well prepared com- 

 post. The stronger Cerei and Opuntiae like the same compost as 

 the pine apple, and our common, or tall Cacti, are brought to their 

 greatest perfection in the richest composts ; yet for the general 

 bulk of the family I lay no stress on the kind of compost which 

 should be used for them ; any rich friable soil without vegetable, or 

 animal manures, will suit them quite well. For the large speci- 

 mens of Melocacti and Mammillariae, and those for which I am 

 obliged to use disproportionately large pots, owing to their shape, 

 I use half loam and the other half equal portions of sand and brick- 

 dust, or broken pots pounded small ; and for the smaller specimens 

 I use the old proportions of loam, peat and sand with a portion 

 of brick-dust. Large plants will not require shifting for many 



