100 



Greenhouse and tStuoe Plants 



undersides of the leaves frequently to see 

 that they are not affected, and fumigate if 

 the insects appear. 



CEREUS. 



Under this head are comj^rised a nume- 

 rous section of the Cactus family, among 

 which are some of the most gorgeous 

 blooming cool stove subjects in the whole 

 range of flowering plants, at one time veiy 

 much more cultivated than now. In times 

 past, when hothouses were mostly warmed 

 by the old-fashioned flues ^vith the dry 

 heat they gave off, the genus Cactus was 

 largely represented. The flowers indivi- 

 dually do not last so long as some others, 

 but when the plants get large they give a 

 succession that keeps on for several weeks. 

 The splendid colours possessed by many of 

 the varieties, comprising the most vivid 

 shades of red and crimson, are unequalled 

 among cultivated plants. Cereuses are of 

 the easiest possible growth, provided that a 

 few essentials to their well-being are kept 

 in view, and they require very little of that 

 watchful attention which many newer and 

 more fashionable introductions demand. 



They are propagated freely from cuttings 

 made of good-sized pieces of the shoots after 

 they are fully matured ; these should con- 

 sist' of a considerable portion of the pre- 

 ceding season's growth. If taken off in the 

 spring they should be laid on a dry shelf 

 for a few days to allow the base, where 

 severed, to dry up ; afterwards put them 

 singly into thoroughly drained pots just 

 big enough to hold them, filled with sandy 

 loam. Place them in a stove temperature, 

 but not shaded or kept close as most 

 cuttings require to be, or they will rot up- 

 wards from the base ; nor must they have 

 much water until they have made plenty 

 of roots^'ust as much as will prevent the 

 soil getting quite dry will suffice. After 

 they are rooted keep them near the glass, 

 with all the sunlight available, and also 

 where they will get air daily. An atmo- 

 sphere less moist than that of a modern 

 plant stove suits them best. When they 

 have begun to grow, put a stick to each to 

 support them, and give water more freely. 

 If the cuttings have in the first instance 

 been put in 4-inch or 5-inch pots, these 

 will be large enough for the first yeai', as 

 they do not like much root-room. To- 

 wards the end of September gradually 

 withhold water, and keep them quite diy 

 through the -H-inter, during which a tem- 

 perature of from 48° to 50° will answer. 



In the spring, about the end of March, 

 cut a small piece off the head of each to 

 help them to break out additional shoots. ! 



This may not Ije necessary with all the 

 sorts, as some will bi'anch freely of their 

 own accord, but in no case have we found 

 stopping the points do any harm. Increase 

 the temperature as the days lengthen, 

 giving a little water at first, and when the 

 shoots have got plump, and growth has 

 fully set in, give more ; then move them 

 into larger pots proportionate in size to 

 that of the plants according to their 

 strength of habit. Use a modei'ate 

 quantity of sand, and some potsherds 

 broken small will help to ensure porosity. 

 Continue to treat them as advised during 

 the pi'eceding summer with plenty of heat 

 and sunlight in the growing season ; 

 again dry them off in the autumn, ancl 

 winter as before. Some of the smaller 

 freest-flowering kinds ^\'ill yield a few 

 blooms the ensuing summer. The manage- 

 ment afterwards required will be of a 

 simple routine character ; give more pot- 

 room as the roots need it, but be mindful 

 never to overdo them in this respect. As 

 the plants get large, it will be an advantage 

 with those kinds that require less heat to 

 stand them out during July and August in 

 the open air against a wall in the full sun^ 

 giving no more water than is required ta 

 keep them from shrivelling ; so treated, 

 they will go on and last for many years. 



Such species as C. McDonaldise and C. 

 grandiflorus, the night-blooming Cactuses, 

 require to be trained to a M'all exposed to 

 the full sun in a warm stove, as they need 

 a thorough ripening to enable them ta 

 bloom. The former of the two species 

 comes from Honduras, and has yellow 

 flowers ; the latter is a native of Jamaica, 

 and bears white flowers of an immense size. 

 In addition, the undermentioned are all 

 fine kinds : — '■ 



C. flagelliformis. Pink. From Peru. 



C. speciosissimiis. Crimson. From South 

 America. 



C. splendidiis. Scarlet. From Mexico. 



C. superbvs. Red. Mexico. 



C. triangularis. White. From the West 

 Indies. 



0. Tweediei. Orange. From Buenos 

 Ayres. 



Some of the above will succeed with a 

 lower temiDerature than that of the stove, 

 but all are benefited by consideiable heat 

 while growing. There is a very large 

 number of known species, but those named 

 will in most cases be found a sufficient 

 selection for ordinary cultivation. 



Insects. — These plants are little affected 

 by insects, yet aphides will often be found 

 to attack the young gi'owths and the 

 flower-l3uds ; they can easily be got rid of 

 by fumigation. Slugs are very fond of- 



