448 



ACKERMANN'S PHYLLOCACTUS. 



the curling tendrils of the vines, examined the peas 

 in the pod, told how the bees benefit the bean crop, 

 and how and why the slender stems manage to 

 climb to the top of the poles and swing around in 

 seach of objects still higher. He has not neglected 

 the esculent tuber from America, nor forgotten to 

 grapple with the changes of cion as affected by the 

 stock. 



Many other botanists have already condescended 

 to examine, often suggesting remedies for anthrac- 

 nose on wax beans, mould on lettuce, rot on toma- 

 toes, smut on onions and sweet corn, and rust on 

 blackberries. And above, the reader has just seen 

 that some systematic botanists are beginning to see 

 that the berries, the pomes, the drupes and the vege- 

 tables of horticulture are worthy of their attention 

 and careful study. With a very little advertising, 

 some fruits in place of leaves to pay for his visits, 

 the botanist will describe and classify in workman- 

 like manner those cabbage heads ; the beets and 

 carrots, and potatoes will receive like attention, 

 and even those hybrid strawberries, roses, pelar- 

 goniums and castor-oil beans will yet be perfectly 

 described and after some fashion classified, though 



owing to former neglecft of the proprietors, these 

 plants may not be eligible to record on account of 

 defective pedigrees. 



With a little more attention to his own intellec- 

 tual improvement, as well as to be able to raise 

 larger crops of rhubarb, egg-plants, cauliflower and 

 finer hollyhocks, there need hereafter be no fear of 

 neglect of the botanist to lend a helping hand 

 wherever he can make himself useful. He is already 

 beginning to make photographs and herbarium 

 specimens, so far as practicable, of all the sorts of 

 vegetables, fruits, flowers and foliage plants, not 

 only of the edible portions at the proper stage of 

 growth, but likewise the buds and flowers. He is 

 giving much attention to the seeds of plants, also, 

 their structure, vitality and points for classification. 

 With the advent of the agricultural college and the 

 experiment station, the botanist hereby solemnly 

 promises in the future to be more attentive to the 

 wants of the neglected sister, horticulture. Flora 

 and Pomona shall henceforth begin to regain the 

 homage paid them in the days of Homer, and much 

 good shall follow the worship of the sisters. 

 Michigan Agricultural College. W. J. Beal. 



ACKERMANN'S PHYLLOCACTUS {Phyllocadus Ackermanni). 



Fig. I , Frontispiece. 



Phyllocachis Ackermanni, Haworth, Synopsis Succulentarum, 1819. Cereus Ackermanni, Lindley, Bot. Register, t. 1331. 



The species of the genus phyllocactus, which, all 

 things considered, is undoubtedly the most impor- 

 tant genus among cacti to the florist, naturally 

 fall into two series : the first series is characterized 

 by red or deep pink flowers, which persist for more 

 than a day, and the second by flowers which are 

 white or whitish inside and are usually sweet-scent- 

 ed, and some of which are ephemeral. In the red- 

 flowered section, Phyllocactus Ackeriiianni is un- 

 doubtedly the most valuable species. The flowers 

 are a bright shining crimson, and measure from six 

 to eight inches across. The outer sepals are small 

 and bract-like and more or less scattered, a char- 

 acter which distinguishes this species from P. phyl- 

 lanthoides. It is one of the freest bloomers of the 

 genus. The species is particularly interesting from 

 the fact that it has been a parent of many interest- 

 ing and valuable hybrids. It has been hybridized 

 even with Cereus speciossissimus, and probably with 

 other cereuses. Hybrids between it and Phyllocac- 

 tus crenatus are well known. In fact, P. Ackermanni 

 itself was at one time supposed to be a hybrid, 

 but the evidence now appears to be clear that it 

 was taken to Europe from Mexico early in the cen- 



tury by George Ackermann, for whom it is named. 



The other important garden phyllocacti are as 

 follows : 



A. Flowers red — 



P. phyllajitkoides. — This is one of the best known 

 species, and one of the freest bloomers. The flowers 

 are about half the size of those of P. Ackermanni, 

 and the outer sepals are long and spreading. The 

 color is usually disposed in irregular streaks of 

 bright rose and white. 



P. biformis. — This is the disocactus or disisocac- 

 tus of Lindley. It is at once distinguished from all 

 other species by its flowers being terminal on the 

 branches, and by the very few sepals and petals. 

 The flowers ars rosy pink, small and short-lived. 

 The plant is erect, rarely reaching 3 feet. It is re- 

 garded as intermediate between phyllocactus and 

 epiphyllum. In an ornamental way it is probably 

 the least valuable of the genus. 



B. — Flowers whitish-centered, ranging from 



YELLOW TO ORANGE OR PINK ON OUTSIDE ; USUAL- 

 LY FRAGRANT. 



P. angtiliger. — A singular species, characterized 

 by large and blunt saw-like teeth or lobes on the 



