. The Canadian horticulturist [monthly], 1901. Gardening; Canadian periodicals. Fig. 2166. Cactis akia. or Rainbow cactus, is indeed when in good condition quite pretty, with its alternate rings ot different colored spines, giving it the appvearance from which its name is de- rived. The three varieties of E. engelmanni, must be mentioned amongst the attractive cacti, as their long, heavy spines are beau- tifully variegated from white, yellow and all shades of red and purple to black. They are bound to attract attention when seen in a collection. This article has gone too far already in
. The Canadian horticulturist [monthly], 1901. Gardening; Canadian periodicals. Fig. 2166. Cactis akia. or Rainbow cactus, is indeed when in good condition quite pretty, with its alternate rings ot different colored spines, giving it the appvearance from which its name is de- rived. The three varieties of E. engelmanni, must be mentioned amongst the attractive cacti, as their long, heavy spines are beau- tifully variegated from white, yellow and all shades of red and purple to black. They are bound to attract attention when seen in a collection. This article has gone too far already in speaking of attractive cacti, without men- tioning that most wonderful plant of all, Pilocereas senilis, or Old Man cactus. This form of plant is the greatest curiosity in nature. The plant itself grows upright, of stout growth, and is covered with a remark- able coat of long, snow-white hair, which is trained down over the plant from what is apparently the crown of an old man's head at the top of the plant. The hair is quite soft, and is sometimes six inches long and so thick as to completely hide the body of the plant itself. There are quite a number of Pilocereus, but none of such distinctive attractiveness as the Old Man. Amongst the Mamillarias are some real little gems, that can be used with good effect in carpet bedding, the spines of each variety being so distinct as to make fine contrasts. A few pretty ones are M. lasiacantha, which is covered with soft feathery spines so closely as to look like a ball of snow ; .M. microm- eris, or Button cactus, a miniature plant covered with tiny rosettes of spines that are so soft as to have the resemblance of velvet to the touch ; M. sanguinea is so closely covered with bristly red spines as to re- semble a brush ; M. nickelsonii, of very regular form ; M. waltone and M. nivea with snow-white spines, and M. pfeifferi with clear yellow spines are also very pretty. The effect of carpet-bedding of cacti can be seen in a fine large b
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