422 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 6, 1884. 
plants are all home-grafted, and in the propagating house is now the 
usual large annual stock in course of preparation. 
Near the entrance to the nurseries the large beds of single Dahlias 
have for several months during summer and autumn, and even late in 
October, yielded a profusion of brilliantly coloured flowers, which have 
well indicated the decorative value of these popular plants. Not only are 
all the most distinct and effective of other raisers’ varieties grown, but 
several of great merit have been raised in this establishment, and one of 
these (Formosa) has been honoured with a certificate this season. 
Scores of beautiful hardy plants are grown, and in one portion of the 
nifsery is a tastefully arranged rockery on a small scale, but sufficient to 
show how a moderate space and little material can be utilised. 
In concluding these brief notes of a most agreeable visit our heartiest 
thanks are due to Messrs. J. Cheal & Sons for their courtesy and 
attention.—L. 
CACTACEOUS PLANTS. 
{Continued from page 334.) 
OPUNTIA, Miller. 
(The Indian. Figa or Prickly Pears.) 
The ordinary type of Opuntia is one of the most familiar forms of 
Cactus. The peculiar flattened, oval, or elliptical branches destitute of 
leaves, but armed with abundant spines, constitute the distinguishing 
characters of the Indian Figs as they are known to most people, and that, 
in fact, is the predominating form in this large genus. There are, however, 
many very striking departures fram these prevailing characters : for in¬ 
stance, several species have irregularly cylindrical stems and slight eleva¬ 
tions of the surface, similar to but not so prominent as the tubercles in 
other genera, and identical with them in structure. Some of these species 
have very slender stems, such as 0. leptocaulis, and when not in flowmr 
could scarcely be recognised as a member of the Indian Fig group. In 
one respect the Opuntias are especially peculiar, and this is in the pro¬ 
duction upon the younger branches, particularly of the flat-stemmed kinds, 
of small thick fleshy appendages, which are regarded as leaves, or, at least, 
as their representatives. These appear below the clusters of spines, and are 
very prominent upon the young growth of 0. vulgaris and others, but they 
either become shrivelled and scarcely perceptible as the stem increases in 
age, or they fall off, and they never advance beyond the rudimentary state 
mentioned. Structurally this is interesting, as it is a step towards the 
leaves which we find so strongly developed in the next genus, Pereskia. 
The intermediate gradations appear to have been lost, for the transition is 
a very sudden one from the grotesque Opuntias to the comparatively 
slightly modified Pereskia, which makes the nearest approach to the 
ordinary characters of flowering plants. 
The floral structure of the Indian Figs does not present any strongly 
marked variations. The sepals and petals are very numerous and in¬ 
distinguishable, the outer generally narrow, the inner broader and spread¬ 
ing. The stems are shorter than the petals in a dense central cluster, 
above which the five to seven-lobed stigma is slightly raised. A large 
proportion of the species have yellow or orange-coloured flowers, and 
though some of these are exceedingly handsome the majority are not very 
imposing and of little value in gardens. The fruits, which have given 
the popular name to this genus, are comparatively large, 3 to 4 inches 
long and 2 to 3 inches in diameter, egs-shaped, or in a few cases some¬ 
what Pear-like in form, covered with clusters of minute spines, and 
containing a sweet or sub-acid pulp of a rather agreeable flavour. Over 
1.50 species are known, all natives of America, principally California, 
Mexico, Chili, and Peru, but two or three have been so long naturalised 
in South Europe, North and South Africa, and other widely separated 
portions of the globe, that they have become as abundant as native 
plants, and are often regarded as such by travellers. 
One highly important service the Opuntias render to man in the dis¬ 
tricts where they thrive—they make admirable live fences or natural 
barriers, and for this purpose they are largely employed, not only in 
America, but also in South Africa. In one remarkable instance it is 
recorded that when the Island of St. Christopher in the West Indies was 
divided between the French and English, three rows of Opuntia Tuna 
were planted to mark the boundary. As an effectual protection against 
depredators of all kinds the Opuntias arc indeed useful “ hedge ” plants, as 
they form a dense growth, the branches closely interlacing and bristling 
with spines—a veritable clievaux do absolutely impassable. The 
value of such a defence can be fully appreciated in the countries where it 
is most employed, and where, without its aid, man would be almost power¬ 
less to prevent the devastating inroads of many enemies. When employed 
in this way portions of the branches are broken off and placed in trenches 
of a suitable depth, and there ends the attention afforded to or needed by 
the plants. They grow in any dry sandy soil, and will subsist where 
scarcely any other vegetation is found—namely, on the porous lavas of 
volcanic districts. In Sicily a striking instance of this is seen, for there 
the Opuntia vulgaris grows and thrives in what would otherwise be sterile 
districts ; and in this power of preparing sterile soils for other vegetation, 
the Opuntias strangely resemble the Mosses, Lichens, and similar minute 
cryptogamic plants. 
In so large a genus as Opuntia it would be unnecessary to enumerate 
many of the species as, except in a botanical point of view, a good proportion 
are of little interest. A few of the best may, however, be noted. 
O. vulgaris, Miller {Cactus Opuntia, Linnaeus).—In Gerarde’s “ Catalogue 
of Plants,” published in 1590, this Opuntia is mentioned, and it also appears 
in the “ Herball ” under the name of Ficus indica, the Indian Fig Tree, so 
that it has been grown in this country for nearly 300 years, and is, therefore, 
the patriarch of the Cacteae. It had, however, been then grown for some 
years in South Europe, and Gerarde obtained his plants from Zante through 
his servant Marshall; but the exact time of its introduction does not appear 
to be known, though it probably occurred shortly after the Spanish expedi¬ 
tions to America early in the sixteenth century. Gerarde states that he was 
unable to fruit the plant, although he had “ bestowed great pains and cost 
in keeping it from the injury of our clymat.” In Johnson’s edition of 
Gerarde’s “ Herball ” (1C33), a fairly accurate figure is given of the plant, and 
from that it is evident that he succeeded in flowering it as freely as could be 
desired, and we cannot do much more now without protection. Having 
been so long cultivated in Europe it has extended into most of the warmer 
districts of Spain, Italy, and the Mediterranean Islands and North Africa, 
and there, under the influence of a higher temperature, the fruit ripens 
readily. Large quantities of these are consumed in those countries, and some 
are imported to England, where, with the fruits of a few other species, they 
are sold under the name of Prickly Pears. They are esteemed by some 
persons, but they are more usually employed as a curiosity in dishes o 
dessert, as the minute spines which cover the skin render the fruit in some 
degree dangerous if not very carefully jieeled. At one time they were sold 
at from Id. to 6(i. each, but in recent years they have been so abundant 
that they occasionally appear on street stalls and barrows in London at the 
popular price of two for a penny. In Sicily it is very abundant, and during 
three months of the year it is said to form “ an important portion of the 
inhabitants’ diet, though generally considered insipid by strangers.” 
The common Indian Fig is rather dwarf in habit, with flat, rounded, 
spiny branches, upon the edges of which its rich golden yellow flowers are 
freely produced, and the plant is then decidedly ornamental. It is one of 
the best of the Cactese for culture on a rockery, and is often left quite un¬ 
protected, though a handlight is beneflcial to throw off excessive rain, and 
the plants so treated always have a better appearance than those constantly 
exposed to the weather. In reference to the culture of this plant out of 
doors Mr. D. Dewar, Superintendent of the herbaceous department, Royal 
Gardens, Kew, writes me as follows :— 
“ Although the cultivation of hardy Cacti in the open air has not been 
so successful as desired in some gardens, where artificially constructed posi¬ 
tions have been given them, the result has been fairly satisfactory. Exposed 
on the open rockery they will live, but our moist climate tries them severely, 
especially in -winter. Under projecting ledges, as seen at Floore, Weedon, 
and where there is little chance of their being exposed to too much rain, 
thej’’ flower with remarkable freedom, but this plan requires material not 
within the reach of all lovers of hardy plants. The best method of growing 
these plants that I have seen, and which I am now practising, is simply 
placing a small handlight in a specially dry and sunny position, placing 
inside 2 inches depth of broken bricks, stones, and lime rubbish, planting 
the Opuntias, or other Cacteie, and leaving them unattended. Opuntia 
vulgaris grows vigorously under this treatment and flowers freely, and needs 
scarcely any attention from January to December. The lights are never 
taken ofi; winter or summer. No water is given at any time after they are 
established, and yet they are as healthy as possible. O. vulgaris is the 
most common and the easiest to procure, but we have also 0. missouriensis, 
0. Rafinesquei, and others, all of them perfectly hardy and easily managed as 
described. O. vulgaris grows more rapidly than the others; the joints are 
oval, flat, covered with small leaves which come out in knots on the branches 
and which soon fall, leaving a number of short bristly hooked spines. The 
branches spread near the ground, or trail upon it snake fashion, putting out 
new roots at every joint as they go, and thus facilitating progress, seldom 
rising more than (1 inches in height. As the plant begins to grow old the 
first-formed joints begin to get hard and dry, of a tough texture, and in¬ 
clined to be fibrous or woody. Blank spaces are easily averted by pegging 
over some of the younger branches.” 
0. Rafixesquei, Engehnann .—Quite a recent introduction is this hand* * 
some hardy Opuntia, for it is within the past twenty years that it made its 
debut in England. It has, however, become an established favourite in 
gardens, as when in flower its beauty is amply sufficient to recommend the 
plant to the most fastidious. It somewhat resembles 0. vulgaris, and the 
latter is occasionally seen under this name ; but 0. Rafinesquei has more 
elongated branches, fewer smaller spines, and the flowers, though about the 
same size, are slightly paler and softer in colour. It is very floriferous, and 
being perfectly hardy it grows well on a rockery or a dry raised border, 
where, during July and August, it will bear a succession of bloom.s each 
3 to 4 inches in diameter. If a position is prepared for it the soil should 
consist of loam, sand, and plenty of flnely broken bricks, as too much mois¬ 
ture about the roots will do the plant more injury than will moderate frost. 
The stock can be quickly increased, as the branches form roots if placed in 
sand under a frame. 
0. TujVA, Miller {Cactus Tuna, Linmeus).—This is a very strong-growing 
species, and is one of the principal of those employed for fences and hedges, 
as already mentioned. It is also one of the Cochineal plants, and in some 
districts is more largely grown for that purpose than the Nopalea, par¬ 
ticularly in Mexico, its native country, but in many other parts of America 
it is nearly as abundant. The branches are long, flat, and elliptical in form, 
with numerous yellowish spines. The flowers are large, pale yellow, or with 
a rosy tint, and are followed by the characteristic “ Prickly Pears ” of the 
genus. One interesting peculiarity of the stamens in this species was long 
ago observed by Dr. J. E. Smith, then President of the Linnean Society, and 
published by him in a volume of “ Tracts Relating to Natural History ” in 
1798. In one of these the author discusses the various phenomena connected 
with the “ Irritability of Vegetables,” especially referring to the stamens of 
Berberis communis. In connection with this he mentions, “ The Barberry 
is not the only plant which exhibits this phenomenon. The stamina of Cactus 
Tuna, a kind of Indian Fig, are likewise very irritable. These stamina are 
long and slender, standing in great numbers round the inside of the flower. 
If a quill or feather be drawn through them, they begin, in the space of two 
or three seconds, to lie down gently on one side, and in a short time they are 
all recumbent at the bottom of the flower.” I have tested this, and find that 
the rapidity of the response to the stimulus varies greatly with the condition 
of the weather at the time, and the age of the flower. In some cases the 
stamens appeared to have quite lost the property ascribed to them, and in 
others several minutes elapsed before there was any perceptible motion. 
The peculiarity is, however, not confined to 0. Tuna, some other species 
