1885.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



171 



at the same time, less or more, injure the fohage ; 

 and to destroy the larvs in the soil we are even 

 more helpless. Jersey City, N. J. 



[Mr. Henderson makes a good point in observ- 

 ing that sterile branches come from many condi- 

 tions. Many years ago greenhouse builders kept 

 chiefly in view, how to enclose the most space at 

 the least cost. This meant somewhat flat houses. 

 The steeper the pitch, the more material and the 

 more cost. The editor has one such house in 

 mind ; roses were grown in it ; they flowered very 

 badly. Along the back wall some Noisettes, such 

 as Laraarque and others, were planted and would 

 not bloom at all. During the summer the ventila- 

 tors were thrown open, and so remained all summer. 

 Branches of these Noisette roses came through 

 the ventilators and spread over the glass ; all these 

 exposed branches flowered in profusion ; none of 

 those that remained growing in the house flowered 

 at all. It was one of our early lessons on the 

 value of steep roofs and plenty of direct light for 

 obtaining flowers from winter plants. And it is 

 here offered as a lesson that may have some 

 bearing on the question of blind shoots. There 

 a-e, however, many other influences as well as 

 want of direct light — and these may prevail even 

 in spite of abundance of direct light. — Ed. G. M.] 



THE CULTURE OF CACTUSES. 

 BY N. ROBERTSON. 



Since sending you my photographs of flower 

 beds and mentioning that there was a Cactus bed 

 in the background, I have had several communi- 

 cations asking me to give some hints on Cactus 

 culture through your monthly, as it would be 

 beneficial to many ; so with this in view I give 

 what I have found to be the most successful 

 method of treating them. Cactuses as a general 

 thing do not hold a very prominent position in 

 most collections, and why, I can hardly under- 

 stand, for there are but few plants that will yield 

 a more gorgeous display of flowers than they do, 

 when well-cultivated. If the plants had nothing 

 more to recommend them than their curious forms 

 they would be worth a place in all collections. I 

 know of no plants easier of cultivation than these 

 are ; but whatever species are met with in 

 collections, it is usual to find all subjected to the 

 same treatment as other greenhouse plants. In 

 this way no one need ever expect to be successful. 

 A study of their natural habitats will soon show 

 this. - As they come from Mexico, Brazil and Peru, 

 with their dry and wet seasons, unless they have 



a dry season and a rest but few flowers need be 

 expected. The best way to treat them is to put 

 them away in some place, where the temperature 

 does not fall below 45°, give no water unless 

 they are very much shriveled up. Never mind 

 a little shrivel, that does them good in most cases. 

 Beware of cold damp places, or you will be sure 

 to rot your plants. Those that flower late in the 

 fall or spring, I put outside, taking now and then a 

 casual glance to see that they do not suffer too 

 much, but there is little danger of that. 



In potting them special attention must be given 

 to material and drainage. The material I use 

 consists of good loam, old lime rubbish, with a 

 fair share of coarse sand. The lime rubbish must 

 be taken from some old ruin ; fresh is not good. 

 Arrange to insure drainage, and above all things 

 do not overpot them. Keep them in as small pots 

 as the roots will admit of The time to pot is just 

 before you start them to grow ; but never change 

 them unless you see they are very much bound in 

 the pot, and when you do so be sure to cut away 

 all dead roots, or they will destroy the soil. The 

 lumps of lime rubbish are more for keeping the 

 soil open and ensuring perfect drainage than for 

 any other thing. When growing, a fair share of 

 water may be given. Cleanliness is always a 

 material point to be observed, and a wash over 

 now and then with tepid water will do much to in- 

 vigorate them. This should be especially attended 

 to when taking them from their resting places into 

 the house. The mealy bug is perhaps, their worst 

 enemy, and sometimes it is necessary to use some 

 insecticide that will run in on them and destroy 

 them. When growing let them have free sunlight, 

 and from 60-' to 90° in temperature will do them 

 no harm ; in fact, most of them enjoy a very high 

 temperature. I keep mine on shelves close to 

 the glass ; and when they are coming into flower 

 place them amongst other plants in the houses, 

 and they make a gorgeous display. At this 

 time as low a temperature as they will bear will 

 lengthen the duration of the flower. 



One party writes me asking how to make a bed 

 of Cactus. In all cases the plants should be put so 

 that they can be all seen. If only from one side, 

 then the tallest should be in the background. 

 If to be seen from all sides, the tallest should 

 occupy the centre, studying to vary the subjects as 

 much as possible. I prefer to plunge the pots, for 

 ; in handling them men may be heard expressing 

 themselves in no very nice language. You must 

 be careful that the bed is complete in its drainage. 

 I I am frequently asked if there is any work pub- 



