THE NATIVE and naturalized species of cactuses growing on Florida soil are nine in number - five species of opuntia, four of cereus ; no other genera are represented It is quite possible that the average winter visitor to Florida does not know of the existence of one of these species ; it familiar with any, it is quite likely to be the much abused Opuntia vulgaris. This is the only species found away from the coast, and being almost non-inflammable, it is often seen growing in the high pine woods of the interior, where the ground is burned over every year, and this opuntia appears as a most prominent feature of the landscape. The large showy yellow flowers, which are followed by small, edible, purple fruits, make it a most desirable plant; it is one of those cases where familiarity breeds contempt, even for beauty.

Along the north-eastern coast, and on the islands at the mouth of the St. Johns river, the little Opuntia Pes-Corvi is found, perhaps also in some other portions of the state, but it is not very widely distributed.

Next, and of more importance, is Opuntia Tuna. This famous species, so well-known as a hedge-plant in Mexico and the West Indies, seems to have entirely escaped the inquisitive eyes of the many savants who have botanized on the coasts of Florida, though it abounds on every high sandy beach from Tampa Bay around to Miami, and perhaps still further north on the east coast. We can scarcely believe that any one who has ever botanized on the coast of South Florida, has kept his "shins" from coming into occasional unpleasant contact with it. It quite often grows in impenetrable masses four or five feet high, and is characterized by large oval joints, six or eight inches long. It is covered with two sets of spines - some small and chaff-like, but whose close acquaintance is not to be courted, and others an inch or more long, as sharp and strong as needles, and quite as formidable as any cactus we have ever seen. The yellow flowers almost invariably have a rosy tinge, and the plant is beautiful, both when in bloom and when covered with the large rich purple berries, or "prickly-pears".

Besides its use in Tropical America as a hedge-plant, it is used as one of the principal cochineal plants. By the by, what is to hinder the establishment of this industry on the acres of Optunia 7una along on the South Florida coast ? Probably the falling off of the use of cochineal, as the world runs after the gayer anilines, is the practical bar to producing the dye in Florida.

This species, too, is quite hardy, and will stand several degrees of frost unharmed. The fruits, covered with occasional tufts of small chaff-like prickles, are two or three inches long, somewhat pear-shaped and pumpkin-colored. They are produced in the greatest profusion, and are quite likely to become valuable, in time, for culinary purposes, though but few people are acquainted with their uses.

We know of a certain lady who has been experimenting, and of a certain cupboard containing an array of glasses of marmalade, and jars of the richest wine-colored sweet-pickles, all made from the fruit of Opuntia Tuna, and as tempting as an epicure could wish. Certain it is that more attention to edible and "cookable" cactuses, and commercial use for the fruits, are in the strong probabilities of the near future.

Equally as famous as Opuntia Tuna is Opuntia Ficus-Indica, the "Indian fig" cactus. This species has escaped from cultivation and has become naturalized in a few places in South Florida, especially on Key West. It also, like most of the optunias, is very hardy, and would probably prove so in North Florida. It is a most striking and picturesque plant, attaining, in a few years from the cutting, a height of ten or twelve feet, with immense flat joints a foot or even fourteen inches in length. The scale-like spines often drop off and leave the surface perfectly smooth, so it is not very prickly, nor difficult to handle. The fruits are larger than those of Opuntia Tuna, and are yellow in color. The pulp is sweet and has very few seeds. It is very much liked by most people who are familiar with it, and we have seen those who preferred it to such popular and delicious fruits as the orange and banana. The fruits are known as "Indian figs" in the West Indies, and stray specimens occasionally find their way into the New York markets from some West Indian schooner or other vessel.

The plant will, in time, probably be quite extensively cultivated in Florida.

Opuntia polyantha, mentioned in Dr. Chapman's "Flora of the Southern States " as native on Key West, is also sparingly found on Upper Metacombe key. It is an upright growing species with thin oval joints and small prickles. It reaches a height of four or five feet, and is distinct.

A species of cereus found quite commonly on the Southern and Western keys as far up as Tampa Bay has also escaped the notice of most of the eagle-eyed scientists who have heretofore frequented the Florida keys on botanizing excursions. It is upright, or partly of scrambling growth, depending somewhat on bushes or trees for support. The stems are from one to two-and-a-half inches in diameter, and often ten feet or even fifteen in length, with very few branches, or none at all. The large white or straw-colored flowers are five or six inches in diameter when open ; it is night blooming, and flowers when quite small. Mr. A. Blanc writes us that it is Cereus serpentinus, but Professor Sereno Watson is still in doubt as to whether it is or not. We have not seen the ordinary form of C. serpentinns in bloom, but to us, the plant at least seems different from this. Mrs. Nickels, of Laredo, Texas, who is familiar with C. serpentinus, pronounces this a different sort. Whether it is a different species, or only a variety of C. serpentinus, will probably be determined when the specimens at Harvard bloom. The fruit is spherical, two or three inches in diameter, and of a bright orange color.

It is eaten by some people, but is really little more than a mass of small black seeds.

The fruit of Cereus triangularis, known sometimes as the "strawberry pear " is often used in the West Indies as a culinary vegetable. It is known as God-ocltro in Jamacia, where it is quite an important ingredient of certain soups and stews, as it was formerly in the historical "pepper-pot." It is often set out in South Florida, and previous to the freeze of January, 1886, there were many immense specimens, even in the door-yards of Manatee, and it was found in Hillsborough and Orange counties. In Key West it is quite plentiful, and here Dr. Chapman considers it naturalized. It is one of the few plants brought to South Florida by Dr. Henry Perrine from Campeche, over fifty years ago, which has survived the ordeals of Indian wars, fire, water, wind and weather. One of the original plants was planted in Key West, and one sent to a florist in New Orleans. Almost the only other surviving plants of Dr. Perrine's introduction are Aloe vulgaris, still growing on Indian key, Agave rigida var. Sisalana, perfectly naturalized on the Southern and Western keys, and two immense date palm trees on the lower Metacombe. Cereus triangularis is night-blooming, with very large handsome white flowers.

The triangular stems are one or two inches in diameter and delight in climbing on walls and fences.

Another species, which, like Opuntia polyantha, is peculiar to Key West and Lower Metacombe, is Cereus monoclones. This species has an arborescent stem attaining a height of twenty feet - almost a miniature Cereus giganteus - a "baby-giant." A full-grown branched specimen is perhaps the most conspicuous and "unique" of all the Florida cactuses. The flowers are freely produced, but are small compared to those of many species of cereus. The diameter of the stem ranges from two to eight inches.

The most plentiful, and at the same time the most "murderous" species of cereus found in Florida is Cereus variabilis. This is only found below the Caloosa-hatchie river, but it is there found on all the high land in sufficient quantities to "strike terror into the heart" of the adventurous " Conch " (Bahamian) who essays to start a tomato patch or a pine-apple farm. The stems are about the size of those of C. triangularis, and are three, four, five, or six-sided, a peculiarity indicated by the name. They are of upright, scrambling, creeping, or any other style of growth ; and are armed with most formidable spines an inch or more long, and so strong as to penetrate thick leather. It is one of the most formidable obstacles to clearing new land, and is only conquered by the machete, and a good hot fire. A thicket of this cactus, supplemented by quantities of Opuntia Tuna, the serrulate leaves of Agave rigida, the spines of its variety sisalana, with a "fair sprinkling" of "Spanish Bayonets" (Yucca aloifolia), and a half-bushel of brindle mosquitoes turned loose in their midst, constitutes a most effective protection to the early watermelon patches of far South Florida. The vigorous activity of the "skeeters" is well supplemented by the passive "cussedness" of this mass of various spines, thorns and prickles; and even the most hardened African lover of the juicy cucurbit may well pause in fear of the surroundings, if not in admiration of the nerve which could evolve a melon field out of this truly American jungle.

It is in cactuses, as in other things that grow, Florida demonstrates its wonderful adaptability and wide ranges. With the treasures of the tropics and the sturdy fruits of the north within our reach, ought we not be proud of our " land of flowers ?" If only the occasional hard freeze was not the serpent in our Eden, how happy we would be !

Florida. P. W. Reasoner.