128 
GERMAIN FR UIT COMPANY ’8 
MAMILLARIA. 
These beautiful gems of the Cactus family are 
natives of Mexico principally. In their native 
habitat they grow in rich loam and therefore re¬ 
quire a better soil than the different kinds of Cer- 
eus and Echinocactus which grow among calcar¬ 
eous rocks in the mould formed by the decomposi¬ 
tion of vegetable matter in the fissures. 
By attending to these particulars the Mamillar- 
ias may be easily grown in any situation where 
they can be kept free from frost. When kept in a 
room they should be allowed as much air as possi¬ 
ble and the dust which lodges among their spines 
should be frequently blown off with a small pair of 
bellows or the breath. Care should be taken when 
selecting the soil, to guard against such as has 
been lately manured, at least none should be added, 
loam from good rotted turf with *3 sand is best. 
Applanata. A fine plant bearing bright red 
berries, very attractive. Each 25c* to 50c. 
Decipiens. Has lovely, large yellow flowers, 
which last for several days. Each 25c to 50c. 
Elegans. A very handsome, short, white spined 
variety, has bright colored flowers, followed by a 
circle of red berries or seed pods, excellent as a 
pot plant. Each $1.00. 
Fulvispina. Magnificent, plants, the spines are 
ivory white in color at the base, turning to dark 
purple towards the point, and are regularly curved 
towards the top of the plant. Flowers pink, very 
large and freely produced. Each 50c to $1.00. 
Goodrichii. A beautiful California variety, color 
gray, forms fine large clusters, flowers yellowish, 
petals with red midrib, a very good kind, produc¬ 
ing quantities of flowers and fruit. Each 25c to 
50c. 
Grahammi. A very neat and striking plant, 
with pretty rose colored flowers. Each 50c to 
$ 1 . 00 . 
Meiacantha. Flowers white with a reddish 
stripe through the center, followed by beautiful 
fruit. Each 25c to 50c. 
Pusilla. Bright silvery spines, flowers white 
with red stripe, very small species, flowering when 
1 inch high. Each 15c to 50c. 
Pilocereus Senilis. 
Micromeris. (See cut.) Called by some the 
"Button” or "Mushroom Cactus.” On account of 
its small, neat, delicate appearance. The flowers 
are followed by bright carmine berries, which re¬ 
main on it all winter. Each 35c to 75c. 
Mnmillaria Micromeris. 
Minima. A very small, neat plant, with star- 
like white flowers, blooms continuously through¬ 
out the summer. It is of rapid growth, soon form¬ 
ing large clusters of heads. Each 25c; clusters 
$ 1 . 00 . 
Pectinata. A strikingly showy plant, with 
beautiful sulphur yellow flowers, 2 to 3 inches in 
diameter when open. Each 25c to 50c. 
Stella Aurata. (Golden Star.) When in good 
condition the entire plant is covered with star-like 
rosettes of yellow spines ; flowers small and white. 
Grafted on Cereus grandiflorus stock it makes a 
beautiful head. Each 25c to 50c; grafted plants 
$1.00 to $1.50. 
PILOCEREUS. 
The well known Old Man Cactus, P. Senilis is a 
native of Mexico. It attains a height of from 20 
to 25 feet, with a diameter of 9 or 10 inches, and 
its fluted character gives it somewhat the appearance 
of an architectural column. The stem is divided 
into 30 or 40 narrow furrows, with corresponding 
ridges, which are furnished at very short distances 
with tufts of white spines, surrounded by numer¬ 
ous long flexible white hairs, resembling the gray 
hairs of an old man’s head, hence has arisen not 
only the common name of the plant, but also its 
scientific appellation. When young the stems are 
fleshy and succulent but when they get old their 
tissue becomes filled with an extraordinary quantity 
of small sand like grains, composed of oxalate of 
lime, not less than from 60 to 80 per cent having 
been found in individual stems. This genus re¬ 
quires the same culture as other Cacti and is in¬ 
creased in the same manner. 
Senilis. "Old Man Cactus.” (See cut.) In pot¬ 
ting this general favorite a little old lime rubbish 
should be added to the soil. Each 75c to $5.00. 
