[Plate 69.] 



THE HYBRID CREMATE CACTUS. 



(PHYLLOCACTUS SPECIOSISSIMOCRENATUS.) 



A Garden Hybrid Greenhouse Shrub. 



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THE following is the history of this beautiful production. It happened that the 

 Thyllocactus crenatus was in flower in the garden of the Horticultural Society at 

 the same time as a very fine variety of Cereus speciosissimus belonging to Lady 

 Antrobus. It occurred to Mr. Gordon to touch the former with the pollen of the latter. 

 In due time a fruit was formed, and Phyllocactus crenatus became the mother of a 

 batch of seed which has produced the race of hybrids of which the annexed is a 

 figure. 



The seedling selected for representation is probably the finest of the crop, but all 

 the seedlings are much alike^ chiefly varying in the deeper or paler colour of their 

 flowers. The effect of the cross has been to form a mule with the stems and in some 

 respects the flowers of crenatus, and with the colour, even as far as the well-known 

 violet tinge, of speciosissimus ; so that the father gave colour and changed somewhat 

 the form of the flowers, while the mother gave general habit. 



It is evident that the Cacti mule freely. Many are in our gardens of uncertain 

 origin. Sir Philip Egerton is celebrated for the success with which he mixed them 

 at Oulton Park, and the present case shows that great results may be thus obtained ; 

 for this is an example of undoubted beauty. We would, therefore, suggest the advan- 



