tuft of decimate white stamens, and a style terminated by a 
twelve-fingered stigma. 
C* o 
Mr. Frv has communicated the following hints on the culture 
of such Cacti as that which forms the subject of our plate:— 
44 The Cacti are plants of very easy culture and are increased 
readily by means of cuttings taken from ripened parts of the 
stem. It is of some importance, that the cuttings should he 
cut with a sharp clean-edged knife, for if the wound is bruised, 
the chances are that its surface will decay. They should be 
9 9 
planted in dry, gritty or porous soil, and being very succulent, 
they should be placed on a dry shelf in some airy house where 
they can be kept tolerably dry. Cuttings thus treated, will be 
found to emit roots in a very short time, and may then be 
potted singly in well-drained small pots, in a mixture of road- 
grit (three parts) with a little mellow loam and fine charcoal 
and lime-rubbish. The plants, as they grow, are to be shifted 
into larger pots, using the soil somewhat coarser at each suc¬ 
cessive shift, and giving abundant drainage. This is essential, 
for though these plants require to be liberally watered when 
growing and blooming, yet the water must percolate freely and 
dry off quickly. One or two waterings during the flowering 
season with weak manure-water will assist the blooming mate¬ 
rially. During the dormant winter months very little water 
will be necessary, and a damp situation must be, by all means, 
avoided. 
44 If large specimens are required, liberal shifts with a higher 
temperature than that of a cool greenhouse will secure the 
object, especially if the pots can be plunged in a dry half-spent 
tan or bark-bed. The soil, too, may consist of small portions 
of peat chopped roughly, and of very old thoroughly decomposed 
cow-dung, added to equal parts of good fibrous loam and road- 
grit, which latter is for the most part pulverized stone. 
44 The season of blooming may be prolonged by removing the 
plants into a cooler house after their flowers are expanded, and 
shading them from intense sun-heat." 
