I 12 
FLORA AND SYLVA 
spines, and bearing very large flowers 
of intense carmine colour ; Jiavispma^ 
with smaller, pale green joints, studded 
with larger spines which in their early 
stages are yellow with green tips, the 
flowers large and rose-coloured ; pisci- 
formisj so called from the flsh-like joints 
studded by flowers of pale pink with 
brightred stamens; ?i\\.diSchiima7J7iia?ice^ 
with the largest flowers of all — 2 inches 
or more across — of clear bright crimson, 
borne upon erect growths of a pretty 
bluish-green colour. Opimtia xa^itho- 
stemmah^^iT^ flowers of carmine-purple 
to which the golden stamens give a pecu- 
liarly striking effect, and it also exists 
in several varieties, as follows \—elega?is^ 
with large rosy flowers of glossy texture, 
glistening as though varnished when 
newly expanded ; fitlgeiis^ with flowers 
of glowing carmine ; g?^aciiis^ in which 
they are smaller and of pale pink ; orbi- 
cularis ^ with rounded growths and many 
pale pink flowers of 2 to 3 inches across; 
and rosea^ with numerous blossoms of 
blush-pink. Other kinds such as the 
Opuntias arenaria^ arka?isana^ cymo- 
chila^ hybrida^ macrorhiza^ and phcea- 
cantha^ have now lived in the open air 
for several seasons, but have not yet 
flowered at Floraire : all the plants we 
have named, with others too numerous 
to mention, thrive in the open air with 
complete success. 
To do well they must have 
Cultivation. , , . . 
a sunny spot — and this is 
more than ever necessary in England— 
as open to the winds as their own 
mountain tops, but dry, thoroughly 
drained, and with a sufficient layer of 
limestone soil. At Geneva we find them 
to flourish in a narrow border thrown 
up against a low wall of 3 feet high, 
exposed to full sunlight, and so built 
that stagnant moisture is impossible. 
The collections I have seen in Germany 
are grown upon banks (never on the 
flat) exposed to full sun, and facing 
south. From my own experience I can 
warmly recommend the culture of these 
Cacti, so full of interest to lovers of 
hardy plants, who may rely upon the 
kinds named as being those that have 
given the best results in my own col- 
lection, or which I have seen thriving 
with others. H. CORREVON. 
Floraire, Geneva. 
Diseased Beech. — You may be interested in 
some samples from Beech which I have just 
cut down. This tree was not visibly in bad 
health, and the outward signs of disease were 
of the slightest. This being so, I was sur- 
prised to find the centre rotten at i 2 feet from 
the ground. I am sending a piece of this 
touchwood, and a section of one of the two 
trunks at 20 feet from the ground. The tree 
was of fair size, being 7^ feet in girth at 3 feet 
from the ground. Is it not distressing that this 
should be the inner state of a comparatively 
healthy-looking Beech tree ? — A. Kingsmill. 
[The trees are infested with the white bug 
which does so much harm : a tree of the chalky 
hills and dry limestone soils, the Beech is not 
at home on the clays of North London.] 
SONGS OF THE WOODS AND 
FLOWERS : Daffodils. 
I QUESTION with the amber Daffodils, 
Sheeting the floors of April, how she fares ; 
Where King-cup buds gleam out between the rills, 
And Cellandine in wide gold-beadlets glares. 
By pastured brows and swelling hedgerow bowers. 
From crumpled leaves the Primrose-bunches slip, 
My hot face roll'd in their fair-scented flowers, 
I dream her cheek rests against my lip. 
All weird sensations of the fervent prime 
Are like great harmonies, whose touch can move 
The glow of gracious impulse: thought and time 
Renew my love with life, my life with love. 
When this old world new-born puts glories on, 
I cannot think she never will be won. 
— Lord De Tabley. 
