o five inches long, which give it a very
peculiar appearance. When kept in the house the hairs are likely to
become dusty and grimy. They may be protected by cutting two panes of
glass into four long pieces, just wide enough to square the pot, and
enclosing it, putting a fifth piece over the top.

_Opuntia senilis_, the dwarf prickly pear, is very similar to the above,
but indoors makes a larger plant usually, although much smaller in its
natural habitat.

_Anhalonium fissuratum_, the Living Rock, is an other frequently
encountered and very interesting sort.

The _Mammillarias_ are compact, neat little plants quite unique and
attractive in spite of their spiral rows of vicious spines. They grow
only a few inches high and have inconspicuous pale flowers of yellow,
red or purple, followed by the bright red little fruits which are one of
the most interesting characteristics. _M. bicolor_ is one of the best
and most frequently encountered sorts. _M. plumosa_ has fuzzy spines,
like the Old Man cactus. It can be kept clean by growing under a large
glass.

There are several succulent plants quite closely resembling cacti, which
need about the same treatment.

The century plant (_Agave Americana_) is universally known. There are
two sorts frequently seen, that with the green leaves and a variety with
broad yellow bands which is much handsomer. They make excellent formal
tub plants, standing almost any hardships and lasting for years. They
are easily propagated from suckers and grow quite rapidly. They are,
however, in the larger sizes very difficult to handle, armed with spines
at leaf tips and edges. Tub specimens are usually wintered over in the
cellar, or at the florist's. There is an unfounded superstition that
they bloom once every hundred years. They rarely flower when
domesticated. Repot as often as needed, in fairly rich soil, while
growing. Small plants are quite attractive in the house in winter and
may be plunged outside in summer. The Crown of Thorns (_Euphorbia
splendens_) is also quite well known. It makes a long tangled vine, full
of wicked short thorns and small, pretty leaves. The flowers are not
large but the bright red bracts add a touch of color and the plant is
covered with them most of the year. It must be carefully staked up and
trained, a short wide pot trellis being the best thing to use.

"Little Pickles" (_Othonna crassifolia_) is quite a favorite basket and
hanging plant. The odd, thick foliag