October 2, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
311 
old stems when cut lose the succulent portion of their structure, but still 
preserve their form, becoming almost like petrified stems, solid, heavy, 
and stone-like. Examples of this kind can be seen in the museums at 
Kew, the whole centre of the stem being filled with lime crystals. 
Several other species are in cultivation in botanic gardens and a few 
collections, perhaps the best known being P. Celsianus, which has ex¬ 
tremely fine hairs closely pressed to the surface of the stem, and having 
a cobweb-like appearance ; very distinct from P. senilis. There is also 
one dwarf-growing rare species, named P. chrysomallus, which has 
golden spines. The Pilocereus very rarely flower in cultivation, though 
they are not difficult to grow, succeeding under the same treatment as 
the other tall-growing Cereuses. 
Echinopsis —The fourth group of species arranged under the wide 
term Cereus includes a number of plants at one time considered to be 
related to the Echinocactus, but which are readily separated from that 
genus by the long tubular or funnel-like flowers produced from the side 
of the stem instead of near the summit, as in the Hedgehog Cactus. 
From the true Cereuses they are also distinguished by their dwarf 
globular stems, and from the Echinocereus by the long flowers and smooth 
seeds. Many of the species are very handsome when in flower, and 
several are as hardy as the Echinocereuses, being therefore employed on 
rockeries or in warm situations out of doors with Opuntias and a few 
Mamillarias. Owing to this hardiness of constitution they are useful as 
window Cacti, and are generally grown for that purpose in the miniature 
pots before mentioned. Some do not flower quite so freely as their 
relations, but they are easily grown, almost the only requisite being to 
avoid giving them too much water either in the soil or in the stems, as 
they are very liable to decay, particularly during the winter. 
_E. Etriesi.— One of the best known of the species, and when in flower 
it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and interesting in cirltivation. 
The stem is very regularly globular, with small angular ridges, which bear 
small dark spines set in little tufts of white hairs. The flowers are 
6 to 8 inches long, like a curved funnel, and are 4 to 5 inches across at the 
mouth, formed by numerous tapering white petals spreading symmetrically. 
A most important character is the delicious fragrance possessed by the flowers, 
which is very wonderful and most pleasing. Referring to this plant. Dr. 
Lindley has written in the following eulogistic but well-merited terms, 
“ When young the blooms resemble long sooty grey horns covered with thick 
shaggy hairiness, and would never be suspected to conceal a form of the 
utmost_ beauty or a clear and a delicate complexion. When the hour of 
perfection has arrived, and the coarse veil of hair begins to be withdrawn by 
the expansion of the unfolding petals, one is amazed at the unexpected love¬ 
liness which stands revealed in the form of this vegetable star.” The plant 
is a native of Mexico, whence it is said to have been first introduced by Sir 
John Lubbock, who forwarded specimens to the Royal Horticultural Society. 
A variety named glaucus has also been obtained, but it differs little from the 
type except in the slight glaucous tinge of the stem. 
E. OXTGOXA.— This has been described as an Echinocactus, but is now 
includ d with the Echinopsis for the reasons already named. It is somewhat 
similar to E. Eyriesi in the form of the stems and the ridges, but the spines 
are brown and the tufts of hair or pulvini are not so white. The flowers, 
however, are extremely beautiful, and by many would be considered more 
handsome than those of the preceding species. The flower tube in good 
examples is fully 8 inches long and 4 inches in diameter, less contracted than 
in Eyriesi, and the petals not spreading so horizontally. In colour the outer 
part of the tube is curiously marked with green and red, the petals being 
white stained-with red on the margins, which gives them a very pretty 
appearance. 
E. CAMPYLAC-A-NTHA, Pfeiffer [Echinocactus and Cereus leucanthus ).—This 
is a Chilian plant, where it was found by Dr. G-illies at Mendoza, and the 
plants introduced first flowered in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens 
in 1831. It has a conical stem with fourteen to sixteen ridges and strong 
spines, the central one in each cluster being 3 inches long, whitish, and 
curved upwards. The flower tube is 5 to G inches long, dark green, with 
short ovate petals, white tinged with pink, the expanded portion of the flower 
being 2 to 3 inches across. 
There is a score or more of other species, each of which possesses 
some attractions. E. cinnabarinus has very bright cinnabar-red flowers, 
which contrast agreeably with the light-coloured form. E. Pentlandi has 
orange-red flowers, and a variety named coccinea is very bright red, almost 
scarlet. E. multiplex has whitish flowers, but its variety cristata is more 
noteworthy than the type. It has peculiarly contorted stems, the ridges 
being apparently folded transversely, as if the plant had been compressed 
laterally. Like other crested varieties of Cactem, it would not at a glance 
be thought to be related to the species of which it is considered a variation. 
E. pulchella has pale rose flowers produced in the spring months ; E. Schel- 
hasi, flowers white like Eyriesi; this is said to have been crossed with Cereus 
specios.sissimus, and plants produced that presented some resemblance to 
both parents, but wh-ther they ever flowered or not I have not been able to 
ascertain. E. Zuccariniana is a beautiful species with large white flowers, 
very fragrant and resembling Jasmine ; it has also produced a handsome 
rose-coloured form by a cross with E. oxygona, and a crested variety is also 
grown. Many others are in cultivation, Mr. Peacock numbering thirty-two 
species and varieties in his collection, and the majority of these have large 
handsome flowers. 
PHYLLOCACTUS, Uni. 
The two most valuable genera in the whole Cactus family, considered 
from a horticulturist’s standpoint, are undoubtedly the Phyllocactus and 
the Epiphylium, and they are the only two which can be said to have 
partially escaped the modern neglect of the Cactese as garden plants. 
These are still established favourites in many places, but they are 
comparative strangers to numbers of cultivators who might advantage¬ 
ously include them in their collections. Profuse in flowering, with large 
showy blooms, most variously coloured, from the richest crimsons and 
brightest scarlets to the most delicate rose and blush tints, they are 
unexcelled in beauty by any of the ordinary plants grown for decoration. 
S ) far from being fastidious or requiring any particular routine of culture, 
they are often treated with utmost carelessness, stored in “ out-of-the- 
way ” corners, and left in a measure to take care of themselves; yet 
do they repay their ungenerous hosts with abundance of glorious 
flowers, and then only are they brought into sight, to be again consigned 
to the old quarters when the fl 'wering season is over. Like every other 
plant that is easily grown the Phyllocactuses and their allies respond most 
promptly to liberal treatment, and well as they may seem to be under 
the careless system, they are incomparably superior where their moderate 
requirements are studied and provided for. It is sometimes said that 
the flowering period is so short that they are scarcely worth the space 
they occupy for so many months, but assertions such as these have been 
formed upon limited experience. Phyllocactuses may be had in flower for 
three or four months in the year by having a dozen or two plants in 
different stages, and with the Epiphyllums the flowering season can be 
prolonged for at least six months out of the twelve in an almost unbroken 
succession. Outside the ordinary decorative plants, such as Pelar¬ 
goniums, &c., there are very few which possess so many recommendations 
as these, and it is to be hoped that their merits will become more widely 
recognised. 
The genus Phyllocactus as now constitute 1 includes thirteen species, 
natives of tropical America, Mexico, and Brazil, and are chiefly dis¬ 
tinguished by their flattened leaf-like branches, with a prominent midrib, 
and by the large many-petalled flowers being produced from the notches 
in the edge of the stem or branches. These characters suffice in a broad 
sense to .separate them from Cereus and Epiphylium, their near neigh¬ 
bours. They are also epiphytal in habit, but this character is shared by 
several other Cactem, and is therefore only useful as a cultural guide. In 
gardens, and even amongst botanists, there has been much confusion 
respecting these plants, some of the species having been referred to 
Cereus, some to Epiphylium, and most of the older forms appear in 
works under the title Cactus. The principal confusion has, however, 
been between the Epiphyllums and the Phyllocactus; for even now, 
although the distinction has been clearly pointed out by recent writers, 
the two names are frequently employed in current literature as 
synonymous. 
CuLTCRE. —The most important item in the culture is the soil, and 
this is easily provided. A light turfy loam should form the basis of the 
compost, and to this may be added one-third of leaf soil, old dried cow 
manure, and sand, well mixed together and employed in a rather dry 
state. The pots must be well drained, as the plants do not require a 
great depth of soil, and any approach to stagnation about the roots is the 
surest means of causing failure. When plants have attained a good size 
and the pots are filled with roots an annual top-dressing of soil and 
manure will be sufficient without repotting them, and is even preferable, 
as the plants appear to flower more profusely when retained for some 
years in the same pots. It is, however, occasionally necessary to turn the 
plants out to see that the drainage is in proper condition. As regards 
temperature, Phyllocactuses are by no means particular; they will succeed 
in an unheated house or frame, in a greenhouse or in a window, and in 
all these positions the majority will flower freely, but the best results are 
obtained by having them in a warm greenhouse, what is termed an 
intermediate house, during their growing period. After the growth has 
been completed they can be placed in cooler and more airy quarters, or a 
similar result can be obtained by keeping the frame closed while growth 
is advancing and ventilating freely afterwards. 
Propagation. —They are readily increased by means of cuttings, 
which, if inserted in sandy soil in moderate heat and kept rather dry for 
a week or two, only slightly syringing them, will form roots, and can be 
placed singly in GO-size pots. Seeds are produced freely, and these may 
be sown in pans of light soil, placed in a dry part of the stove or in a 
warm house until they germinate, when a light position must be afforded 
the plants until they are large enough to be potted singly. 
SELECT SPECIES. 
P. Ackermanni, Hawoith .—One of the most handsome and best known 
forms in cultivation, remarkable alike for the large size, rich colour, and 
profusion of its flowers. It has been I’egarded by some writers as a hybrid, 
and is mentioned as such by Herbert, but upon what evidence does not 
appear. Lindley, on the other hand, gives a full account of the plant, and 
states that it was brought from Mexico by Mr. George Ackermann, in whose 
honour it was named by Haw’orth, the original stem having first flowered in 
Mr. Tate’s nursery in June, 1829. A somewhat peculiar circumstance is, 
however, mentioned by the same authority—namely, that a seedling raised 
by Mr. Smith, gardener to Lord Liverpool, Coombe Wood, was flowered at the 
same time, and proved so similar in its characters that they could only b« 
distinguished by a close examination. Whatever it be there can be no 
question respecting its beauty, and that is sufficient to recommend it to the 
attention of the readers of these notes. The flowers are G to 8 inches in 
diameter, with rich crimson shining petals, the outer ones lighter in colour. 
The stems are flat and deeply crenated or notched, bearing the flowers on 
these depressions. Several varieties and hybrids have been raised from 
P. Ackermanni by crossing it with species of Cereus, especially C. speciosis- 
simus, which has yielded a race of handsome forms differing in the colour 
and size of the flowers, but chiefly shades of crimson or red. It is also said 
that P. Ackermanni has been successfully crossed with Cereus flagelliformis 
in France, the plants resulting differing greatly from both parents, but I 
have never had an opportunity of seeing these forms. A beautiful hybrid 
between P. Ackermanni and P. crenatus has been raised and flowered in this 
country, in which the inner petals were of a soft pale rosy tint and the outer 
a deep crimson, affording a pretty contrast. One valuable character of this 
species and its varieties is that they may be had in flower from May to 
