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Peacock, of Hammersmith, recently possessed two large plants of E. Visnaga, one of which weighed nearly 5cwt., and measured 8 ft. 6 in. in circumference. Cultivation. The soil for Echinocactuses should be similar to that recommended for the Cereuses, as also should be the treatment as regards sunlight and rest.
The interest in this species, however, centres in its spines rather than its flowers. It is a native of the dry hills of California, extending sometimes down to the sea-beach. There is a plant of it at Kew 6 in. high and about fifteen years old; it has not been known to flower there. Mr. Peacock also possesses a large plant of it. E. Visnaga.
Native of the rocky hills of Mexico, whence it was introduced in 1845. The stems of this plant are its most distinctive feature. It thrives on a shelf in a warm greenhouse, if kept perfectly dry in winter, and it should be potted in a compost consisting of broken brick two-thirds, loam one-third. A large-stemmed kind, second only in size to E. Visnaga.
He writes: "I mean to have a large specimen of E. Visnaga deposited in a strong box, sending the box first to the mountain where the monsters grow, and placing it on the springs of a carriage which I shall despatch for that purpose.
The white dots shown on the bark, and which look like scales, are composed of very fine interwoven hairs, which, under a microscope, are very pretty objects. This species was introduced from Mexico along with the large plant of E. Visnaga described at the beginning of this chapter, and was first flowered at Kew, in July, 1845.
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