IT IS not saying too much to assert that cactuses are now about as popular as orchids ; indeed, we do not hesitate to say that there are, in this country, more cultivators of the former than of the latter. The reasons therefor are many. In the first place, cactuses are cheaper; next, they are freer bloomers - their flowers are as brilliant, as large and in many cases as interesting. We doubt, in fact, if the true night-blooming cereus can be rivaled by any orchid. Again, their management is of the easiest; they do not require a carefully regulated temperature, nor close attention as to moisture and watering. One can safely take his summer vacation and leave the cactuses in the house or garden without fear of losing them ; in fact, a good rest often helps them wonderfully, even in summer. A choice collection of the various cactuses when not in bloom is certainly much more interesting than orchids can ever be when not in flower.

Until recently florists have generally neglected cactuses, the main reasons being the slow growth of the scarcer varieties, the difficulty of obtaining them at any kind of reasonable price, and the limited demand. These objections have now been overcome, and as a result, almost all florists give them a prominent place in their greenhouses as well as in their catalogues.

The most popular kinds are not the large fine-blooming phyllocactuses that have little beauty of their own, but rather the curious, handsome-spined mamillarias, the large and brilliant flowering echinocactuses and echino-cereuses, the gorgeous night-blooming cereuses, as well as the interesting oddities in anhaloniums, curious grafts, monstrosities, etc. When showing any one our collection, the echinocactuses invariably receive a large share of admiration, especially when they are in bloom. The finest of all, without a single exception, is Echinoeactus Grusoni, which was discovered a few years ago on an almost inaccessible Mexican mountain, and named in honor of Mr. Gru-son, the celebrated manufacturer, of Magdeburg, Germany, who has the finest collection of cactuses in Europe. The plant is generally of globular shape, and the beauty consists in the bright golden color of the almost transparent spines, which cover it so closely as to give the plant the appearance of a ball of gold. Specimens a few inches high, as well as those measuring a foot or more, are equally beautiful.

A strange peculiarity about this cactus is that never a bug or scale has been seen on it.

Totally distinct from the foregoing is Echino cactus or-natus. In this species the spines and ribs are few in number, the color of the plant is grayish-green, and it is entirely covered with pure white raised spots. The contrast between it and E. Grusoni must be seen to be appreciated.

Third on the list we would place Echinoeactus helo-phorus, fine specimens of which are exceedingly scarce and valuable. It attracts attention from the fact that the body of the plant is deep green in color, and that it is curiously marked with dark red bands. This is the only variegated echinoeactus known.

It is a curious fact that nearly all the fine-spined echinocactuses are inferior in bloom to those with less brilliant "plumage." E. Texensis, E. bicolor, E. lophothele, for instance, are not handsome plants, but their flowers are large and brilliant. The same might be said of E. capricornis, which is more curious than attractive, but has the merit of producing for months in succession, flowers five to six inches long, of the most intense golden yellow with bright vermilion center.

The echinocereuses are not so brilliant in their spines, with the exception of Eehinocereus pectinatus, var. candi-cans, recently christened "Rainbow Cactus," probably because the rings of bright red, pink and white spines encircle the plant in curious symmetry. This is undoubtedly one of the most profuse bloomers among cactuses. We have just taken a photograph of a plant five inches high showing thirteen well developed buds. When fully expanded, the flowers measure four to six inches across, and when in bloom the plants are dazzling. The flowers are edged with a deep border of brilliant magenta ; the center is pure white, the stamens orange and the pistil bright green. This plant is also of the easiest possible management, delighting, however, in the fullest sun and sandy soil. If planted in red gravel the spines will become almost blood red. Our experience this year with some thousands of plants has decided us to place it at the head of all echinocereuses. In Europe, where it is still new, it is called Le Roi des Eehinocereus, "the king of the echinocereuses".

Eehinocereus pectinatus itself must now take second place on the list, and yet it has advantages not possessed by var. candicans, in that it forms large clusters of heads, each of which bears several flowers that are very fragrant. On single plants, the flowers will often measure five inches in diameter. This species is becoming less plentiful in its native home; collected specimens are small and seldom perfect in shape, while three or four years ago magnificent clusters,measuring two feet across composed of many heads three and four inches in diameter, could be obtained without difficulty.

Echinocereus dasyacanthus should be grown as a con-trast to the two preceding sorts, on account of its very large yellow flowers, four to five inches in size. Echinocereus chloranthus is grown for the beauty of its spines, which are red and white. The flowers are not very attractive. Among the fine bloomers we might mention E.Fendleri, purplish-crimson, large ; E.phaniceus, which forms large clusters of heads and crimson flowers; E. gonacanthus, of which the flowers are entirely distinct from those of other echinocereuses, being what we would call a vermilion-scarlet, very waxy in texture and remaining open for a week or more; E. caspitosus, also bearing fine flowers, but the plant does not remain in good condition, being generally rusty towards the roots. Several of the echinocereuses are very interesting when grafted on stout cereuses.