172 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Cacti—continued. 
a spacious house (Fig. 186) specially for the cultivation 
of an extensive collection, where many of them may 
attain a good size before becoming too big. And it will be 
evident that where a house such as that at Kew can be 
afforded, much more satisfactory results may generally be 
obtained than if plants have to be provided for in a house 
containing various other plants, or in the window of a 
dwelling-room. 
Apart altogether from size, it is, however, possible to 
grow. a collection of Cactuses, and to grow them well, in a 
house of small dimensions—given the amount of sunlight 
and heat which are required by these plants. We some- 
times see Cactuses—specimens, too, of choice and rare 
kinds—which have been reared in a cottager’s window or 
in a small greenhouse, and which in health and beauty have 
at least equalled what has been accomplished in the most 
LONDON Erchins, 
Cacti—continued. 
Cactaceous plants—it is possible to keep a collection of ~- 
tiny Cactuses for years, if only the operations of watering,” 
potting, ventilating, and other matters connected with © 
ordinary plant-growing, are properly attended to. 
In Wrinvow Recesszes. In the window recess larger 
specimens may be grown, and here it is possible to flower 
successfully many of the plants of the Cactus family. In 
a living-room window with a south aspect specimens of 
Phyllocactus, Cereus flagelliformis, Epiphyllum, and, in 
fact, of almost every kind of Cactus, are sometimes to be 
met with even in England ; whilst in Germany they are as 
popular amonz the poorer classes as the Fuchsia, the 
Pelargonium, 2nd the Musk are with us. One of the 
commonest of Cactuses in the latter country is the Rat’s- 
tail Cactus (Cereus flagelliformis), and it is no unusual 
thing to see a large window of a cottager’s dwelling 
Fie. 186. SUCCULENT House aT KEW GARDENS. 
elaborately prepared houses. It may be said that these 
successes, under conditions of the most limited kind, are 
accidental rather than the result of properly understood 
treatment; but however they have been brought about, 
these instances of good cultivation are sufficient to show 
that success is possible, even where the means are of the 
simplest or most restricted kind. Whether it be in a 
large house, fitted with the best arrangements, or in the 
window of the cottager, the conditions essential to the 
successful cultivation of Cactuses are practically the same. 
In WaARDIAN Cases. To the professional gardener these 
cases are regarded as playthings. Notwithstanding this, 
they are a source of much interest, and even of in- 
struction, to many to whom a greenhouse or serious 
gardening is an impossibility. In these little cases—for 
which we are indebted to Mr. Boller, a dealer in 
thickly draped on the inside with the long, tail-like 
_ growths and handsome rose-coloured flowers of this plant. 
This is only one among dozens of species, all -equally 
useful for window gardening, and all as interesting and 
beautiful as those above described. The Phyllocactus 
illustrated (Fig. 187) has been grown as a window plant for 
twenty years, and has had over twenty blossoms expanded 
at one time. 
In GREENHOUSES. For the greenhouse proper, Cactuses 
are well adapted, either as the sole occupants or as suit- 
able for such positions as are afforded by shelves or 
baskets placed near the roof-glass. If the greenhouse is 
not fitted with’ heating arrangements, then, by selecting 
only those species of Cactus that are known to thrive ina 
position where, during winter, they ‘are kept safe out of 
the reach of frost (of which a large number are known), a 
