S*. Gfuide. 
arranged in about 11 genera, and the only way to arrive at success in their cultivation, without 
trusting to dmnee, is to write to a worthy imrserynmn who makes a specialite of these plants, 
advising him of your facilities for culture, and leaving entirely to liis discretion the selection of such 
varieties as he considers are suited to your reiiuirements. To those readers who intend 
forming a collection of Cacti or succulent plants, large or small, we say, write to 
Messr^ H. Cannell 8c Sons, the well-known horticulturafists of Swanley Kent who are 
reputed to possess the largest collection of these quaint plants in England, 'it may be 
a matter of passing interest to some readers to know that the berries of some varieties of Cactus 
are used in medicine as remedies for bilious and other complaints, also that carmine coloiiriiiff 
matter is extracted from tlio Coccus or cochineal insect, wiiicli subsists upon the NonuUa or 
Opnntia <whinr/lifera. 'file .SagniuTO or Cerens ijiyuntc.us is tlie largest known species, often 
m Its liahitat (iMcxico) attiuiiiiig a lieigiit of 80 feet and more, whilst the smallest specimens of the 
r’T?- JU-e found in the pmis INIiimillaria. Asa help to those undertaking the culture of 
4.u^ A- • I.- 1 at * r-- atmosnliere wiiicU perv 
the districts m which they are found. I he fruits of many varieties are edible. The buds of such 
varieties as Ccreus ^pkndens, C. tnunguhn'is (the strawberry pear), l*er<‘skia acukata (the Barbadoes 
gooseberry), Opuntm tuna (the prickly pear), and 0. fh'us indira (the Indian lig) are either eaten in 
«ieir raw state or converted into or mixed witli jellies, soups, &c. Prom tile dilTerent genera of 
Cacti y.o pass to tliiit class of allied plants— viz.; the Suecnleiiti. These plants are quite as 
interesting, and as or more diversified in form, as Cacti^in fact, with tlie uninitiated the wliole 
class IS one. (jcuerally speaking, wlicii we hear a person descant upon tlie aspect of liis Caetiis 
certain donbte arise in oiir mind as to whether tiie plant in question is a Cactus or not. In most cases 
It IS not. Tlie idea seems to be firmly imprinted iijioii the mind of tlie umateur that any plant aii- 
proachmg to oddity of form and peculiar habit must of neeessitv liea Cactaccons plant. Coiiseiincutly 
they administer that starving trc.itraent to them, in coiij miction witli true Cacti, the had appearance 
or wliicli, consequent upon such unnatural treatment, tliey soon begin to assume. The liuiuau eve 
tiros of such ordinary plants as are commonly' met with hotli in our sloves ami greenhouses and in 
outdoor gardening and gratefully appreciates anything appertaining to the rare. Such plants as these 
are the subjects of oiir preseid remarks, ami most striking effects can he arrived at in the garden beds 
by the judicious intermingling or dotting about of a few elioiee siiceulents. Dotted here and tliere, 
on iiivertea pots or otherwi.se, in the stove or greenhouse, iliey form centres of nttnu-tion, and bv 
drawing per.soiml attention to themselves help by contrast to illiimiiiato the splendour of tindr floral 
neiuiibours. Por jdauting in window boxes, as .sjieeimens in va.ses or tubs, as centres or edgiiig.s to 
beds upon tlie lawn, dotted in and out amongst roekwork, or to form lines— or, in fact, anv floral 
design 111 carpet-bedding — tliey are invaluahlo. An interesting feature of tlm cultivation of .sn'ceulent 
plants IS their freelj’- disposed habit of inopagation. As witli mnnv species of tlie Globulur Cacti 
wiiicli obstinately refuse to prodnei- offsets, propagation may readily be effected by enttiiig out tlie 
centre of tlie plant, or by carefully detaching a ripened leaf from cither the plant or flower stem, 
which will strike with certainty if laid upon silver sand, the leaf base gradually swelling until the 
small plant ajipears. llas the 
- , gradually swelling i 
.. ''eiitler over tried this intereetiiig exjierimcnt with leaves of Begonias. 
Chrysantliemiims, or Colens? That Ciiriom jilaiit Bnjophylhiiii aih/et?iuiii [lossesses jicrlmjH the 
greatest jiecnliarity lu this iiinumr of propagation, the young plants being produced all round the 
parent leaf. I he c|uaiiit jdaiit known as Mifsemhrpimt/mnum tupimim is I'reqnentlv mistaken for 
a Cactus; it is an luterestiiig jilant, miieh resembling a huncli of tigers elaw.s. 'I’lie habit and general 
ajipearance oj, this curious jilaiit is very different to that of tho rest of tlie genus. Tliey are generally 
natives of South Afnca. Various salts arc obtained from the leaves of the plants coustitutiiiv this 
genus, llie fruits of Mesnilnyinit/iemiwi edule (the Hottentot fig marigold) arc eaten with gusto In 
the Hottentots : but to our jialates they apjiear mawkish, as do the fruits of Cacti. A regular trade 
is carried on by the nntive.s in the trojdcs wliere the so-called lee Plant, .l/eieiniri/fmt/icmMm cri/sli,/- 
Umtm, ahoimds in the soda which they obtain from the hnriit ashes of the planks. Several varieiies 
of the Scdiiins.are eilible, and are looked upon in the light of luxuries by tlie natives who are lucky 
enough to hud (help. Another enrious succulent is the one known as S->mperviK’im arachnoideum. 
A well-grownj.spacTiueh of this jdant is ahvu,ys attractive by reason of the. iieeuliar closely-woven 
web with vvliicli the rosettes are covered. The juice extr.acted from the leaves of niaiiv of the 
.Scm/jerriefi (house leeks) is very efliciicioiis in various skio disordeie. It has the Icmleiicy to allay 
Itching, and it is also used by travellers and natives alike as a dressing for wounds. No collection i's 
complete without a specimen of StaiKdin. Tliese plants are quaint alike in stem and H jwer and 
are good subjects for planting in hanging baskets in the stove or greenlionte. The flower prod’uced 
hy a btapeUu is veritably a curiosity amongst curios. It is most strangelv marked with \arions 
co.oiirs, in some varieties measures as much as levcn or eight iiielies in diameter, and in many 
( 211 ) 
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