H. CANNELL & SONS’ LIST OF CACTI 
5 
their raw state or converted into or mixed with jellies, soups, &c. From the different genera of 
Cacti we pass to that class of allied plants — viz., the Succulents. These plants are (luite as in- 
teresting and as or more diversified in form, as Cacti — in fact, with the uninitiated the \vhoie 
class is one. C.enerally speaking, when we hear a person discant upon the aspect of his Cactus, 
certain doubts arise in our mind as to whether the plant in question is a Cactus or not. In 
most cases it is not. The idea seems to be firmly imprinted upon the mind of the amateur 
that any plant approaching to oddity of form and peculiar habit must of necessity be a Cac- 
taceous plant, t onsequently, they administer that starving treatment to them, in conjunction 
with true Cacti, the bad appearance of which, consequent upon such unnatural treatment, they 
soon begin to assume. The human eye tires of such ordinary plants as are commonly met with 
both in our stoves and greenhouses and in outdoor gardening, and gratefully appreciates any- 
thing appertaining to the rare. Such plants as these are the subjects of our piesent remarks, 
and most striking effects can be arrived at in the garden beds by the judicious intermingling or 
dotting about of a few choice succulents. Dotted here and there, on inverted pots or otherwise, 
in the stove or greenhouse, they form centres of attraction, and by drawing personal attention to 
themselves help by contrast to illuminate the splendour of their Itiral neighbours. 1- or planting 
in window boxes, as specimens in vases or tubs, as centres of edgings to beds upon the lawn, 
dotted in and out amongst rockwork, or to form lines — or, in fact, any floral design in carpet 
bedding — they are invaluable. An interesting feature of the cultivation of succulent plants in 
their freely-disposed habit of propagation. As with many species of the Globular Cacti, which 
obstinately refuse to produce offsets, propagation may be readily effected by cutting out the 
centre of the plant, or by carefully detaching a ripened leaf from either the pmnt or flower 
stem which will strike with certainty if laid upon silver sand, the leaf base gradually swelling 
until’ the small plant appears. Has the reader ever tried this interesting experiment with leaves 
of Begonias, Chrysanthemums, or Coleus? That curious plant Bryophyllum ra/iriwKiK possesies 
nerhaps the greatest peculiarity in this manner of propagation, the young plants being pro- 
duced all round the parent leaf. The quaint plant known as Mtsimbryanthemum ligrmum is 
frequently mistaken for a Cactus; it is an interesting jilant, much resembling a bunch of “gef s 
claws. The habit and general appearance of this curious plant is very different to that of the 
rest of the genus. They are generally natives of South Afrip. Various salts are obtained from 
the leaves of the plants constituting this genus. The fruits of Mesembryanthemum edule (the 
Hottentot fig marigold) are eaten with gusto by the Hottentots; but to our palates they appear 
mawkish, as do the fruits of Cacti. A regular trade is carried on by the natives in the Ho^cs 
where the so-called Ice Plant, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, abounds in the soda which tney 
obtain from the burnt ashes of the plant. Several varieties of the i^edums are ed.ble, and are 
looked upon in the light of luxuries by the natives who are lucky enough to find them. Another 
curious succulent is the one known as Sempervivum arachnoideum. A well-grown specimen of 
this plant is always attractive by reason of the peculiar closely-woven web with wh.ch the 
rmettes are covered. The juice extracted from the leaves of many <.A Sempermva (hou.^e 
leeks) is very efficacious in various skin disorders. It has the tendency to allay itching, and it 
is also used by travellers and natives alike as a dressing for wounds. No cqllection is complete 
without a speenmen of Stapelia. These plants are quaint alike in stem and flower, and are good 
subjects for^planting in hanging baskets in the stoves or greenhouse. The flower produced by a 
Stmiel a is vlritably a curiosity among curios. It is most strangely marked with various colours, 
in sorne Varieties measuring as much as seven or eight inches in diameter, and in many in.stances 
exhales a most feetid odour which has earned for it the name of the Carrion flower. A most 
we’come sight is some nicely-grown bushy specimens of Kochea falcata, a choice winter-flowcr- 
Te n’ant This species is almost as deliciously scented as a tuberose. Another good winter- 
thfwering plant is Crassula ladea—3. good healthy plant in a 5-inch pot should carry eight t i nine 
lr™se"ofCom not omit a word in favour of the Kcheveria, which in its varietie.s 
Mdalliea os /■unck, makes handsome specimens for greenhouse or 
the Echeverias alone there are more than twenty varieties known, fhe cut bloorns f nm some 
varieties— bVoieru Seeunda, and Sccunda glauca—&xe very much admired when used in con- 
junction with others for table decoration. Thus it will be seen there are many varieties of suc- 
culent plants to select from to flower at all periods of the par, 
eye and fastidious taste. So having accomplished our task, we will conclude by wi.hing the 
reader all success in his experiments with these curiosities of nature. 
