1883.] 



7 



Among the newer species in cultivation 

 may be classed the Y. baccata, a native of 

 the far South-west, extending into Mexico. 

 It has mostly a very short stem, with leaves 

 two or three feet long, furnished with white, 

 thread-like filaments. The flowers are large, 

 and the fruit resembles large dark purple 

 Plums. It has not been very satisfactory in 

 cultivation at the North, owing to the blight, 

 which spreads over its entire foliage in a 

 short time. Fruit sweet and edible. 



F. angustifolia is one of our most widely 

 distributed and numerous species. On the 



thirty feet, and a foot or two in diameter. 

 The leaves are very short, rough, and rigid, 

 with a small, stout spine terminating each. 

 The flowers emit a fetid odor, and are ar- 

 ranged in a crowded panicle. 



A handsome dwarf species, known as F. 

 WhippM, is altogether stemless, with glau- 

 cous-green leaves, and very large, showy 

 flowers. The scape, or flower-stem, is from 

 seven to twelve feet high, and exceedingly 

 conspicuous. It is a native of Arizona and 

 California, but valueless in the open air in 

 the Middle States. 



is still highly valued for its peculiar and 

 evenly striped foliage, being alternately 

 light and dark green, with pale yellow. 



F. quadricolor is yet another variety of F. 

 dloifolia, but the addition of a pink tint to 

 the stripes enhances its value. The diffi- 

 culty attending their propagation makes 

 these pretty forms command a high price ; 

 consequently they will never be very plenti- 

 ful in our collections. 



The entire family are partial to a, light, 

 sandy soil, with plenty of drainage when 

 | grown in pots. Old rotted sods chopped up 



plains of Colorado and Utah it is exceed- 

 ingly plentiful, and in a young state very 

 ornamental. It has proven hardy in the 

 Middle States, and is well worthy of cultiva- 

 tion. It is comparatively stemless, with 

 erect, narrow, linear leaves, very stiff and 

 sharp- pointed. 



Another of the newer species is found in 

 F. brevifolia, a native of Southern Utah, 

 New Mexico, and California, with a stem 

 reaching to the height of fifteen, or even 



Two or three pretty varieties are known 

 to florists, and highly prized as greenhouse 

 plants. One of these, a variegated form of 

 F. filamentosa, has distinctly striped foliage, 

 the almost pure white markings rendering 

 it very conspicuous. It is yet scarce and 

 costly, both here and abroad. 



What is known as F. tricolor is only a 

 well marked variety of F. aloifolia, but a 

 distinct and showy specimen plant. 



It has been in cultivation many years, and 



fine, with an admixture of clean, gritty 

 sand, and no manure, is their delight. 

 Water may be administered freely when in a 

 growing condition, but little is needed at 

 other times. They show to excellent advan- 

 tage, and succeed admirably on a rockery, 

 as their stiff outlines and picturesque growth 

 render them applicable to their rough sur- 

 roundings. A few hardy trailing species of 

 Cactus look well when planted with them. 



Josiah Hoopes. 



