78 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a very obtuse and stultified state if he does not learn and 

 wonder at the mysteries of this part of the vegetable kingdom. 

 All such thoughts must enlarge the minds of reflective men, and 

 one cannot help wishing that the time may come when Cactus 

 culture shall be more general. About fifty years ago they were 

 thought much more of, and rare plants then fetched more pounds 

 than they would now realise shillings. 



It is singular to think that there are now only about twenty- 

 three cultivators of these plants in England, whereas there must 

 be over 23,000 amateurs for other plants. Messrs. Cannell, of 

 Swanley, Kent, have a large collection ; Mr. Ludford, of Sutton 

 Coldfield, and Messrs. Carter are also now cultivating them. 

 Anyone wishing plants from their native home could apply to Mr. 

 McDowell, Guajardo Hnos, Monterey, in Mexico, who collects 

 them in their natural habitats, and you would receive them just 

 as torn up ; but the carriage thence is high, a small basket costing 

 20s., and the postal arrangements with Mexico are so unsettled 

 that you have to send the post-office order for him to Laredos, in 

 Texas. 



And now, if I have awakened the least interest in anyone 

 who has not yet loved Cacti, or if I have given a particle of 

 information to anyone who has cultivated them, the pleasure 

 of my labour will have a full reward ; and should any Cactus 

 lovers visit Somerset, and will come to see me at Frome, they 

 shall have a most hearty welcome. 



Discussion. 



Dr. Moeeis, of Kew, said he had listened with great pleasure 

 to Mr. Singer's paper, which treated the subject in a thoroughly 

 practical manner. Unless anyone had seen Cacti growing in 

 their native haunts it would not be possible to form an idea of 

 their size and grandeur. It was very curious how some plants — 

 like some species of Euphorbia— took upon themselves the 

 appearance of Cacti, having round succulent leafless stems 

 of great size. In the dry and poor soils of parts of America it 

 was interesting to see how Cacti thrived. Indeed they were the 

 only plants which would grow in such barren tracts. As a 

 proof that too much moisture was injurious, Dr. Morris men- 

 tioned that Cereus Sivartzi grew luxuriantly near Kingston, 

 Jamaica, where it was largely used for fences, but a mile or so 



