The word cactus or cactos was used by Tbeophrastus for a spring plant of Sicily, probably the garden artichoke. Linnaeus used the word as a generic name, and made all the kinds which he knew species of it. Some of the species have been long in cultivation. The Opuntia vulgaris was recorded as a cultivated plant by Gerarde in 1596. In 1716 Bradley described five kinds of cactuses. In 1796, 29 species were known to botanists. In 1807, 20 species were described, and in 1811, 24 kinds were grown at Kew. In 1819, nearly 50 species were known, and in 1826, 94 were in cultivation. The explorations of Mexican and adjacent regions early in the century resulted in great additions to the numbers in European collections. In 1850 Labouret described 670 species. About 1,000 species are now known, of which perhaps over one-third are in cultivation. - L. H. B.

Some Cactus History #1

Dr. George Engelman wrote in 1856 as follows concerning the knowledge of American cactus : "The only cactus known to Linnaeus from the countries north of Mexico was his "Cactus Opuntia" (Opuntia vulgaris). Long after him, more than forty years ago, Nuttall, the pioneer of west American botany, discovered two mamillarias and two opuntias on the upper Missouri, and again, twenty years later, in California, a new echinocactus. About ten years ago we became acquainted with numerous new cactaceae in Texas through Mr. F. Lindheimer; in New Mexico, through Dr. A. Wislizenus, and in northern Mexico through the same explorer and Dr. J. Gregg ; some others (and among them the giant of cactuses) were indicated in the Gila country by the then Lieutenant W. H. Emory. Soon afterwards Mr. A. Fendler collected several new species about Santa Fe. Mrs. Charles Wright, a few years later (1849), discovered in western Texas and southern New Mexico, still other undescribed cactuses.

"But the greatest addition to our knowledge of the cactaceae of the northern part of the United States was made by the gentlemen connected with the United States and Mexican Boundary Commission, at first under Coloner Graham, and subsequently under Major Emory. Science is indebted principally to Dr. C. C. Parry, Mr. Charles Wright, Dr. J. M. Bigelow, Mr. George Thurber and Mr. A. Schott, for valuable collections of living, as well as dried specimens, and for full notes taken on the spot. About the same time, M. A. Trecul, of France, and after him Dr. H. Paselger, of Prussia, traversed southern Texas and northern Mexico, collecting many cactaceae, and increasing our knowledge of this interesting branch of botanical science.

"The Pacific railroad expeditious since 1853 have opened fields not before explored, and Dr. Bigelow, the botanist and physician of Captain A. W. Whipple's expedition along the thirty-fifth parallel, availed himself of these opportunities in a most successful manner ; while Dr. F. V. Hayden, almost unaided in his adventurous expedition, has extended our knowledge of the northernmost cactaceae in the regions of the upper Missouri and Yellowstone rivers.

* The last, but by no means least addition, was made in 1854 and 1855, by Mr. Arthur Schott, during the exploration under Major Emory of the country south of the Gila river, known as the Gadsden Purchase".