OV THE CULTIVATION 01" THE GENUS CACTUS. 



176 



several spikes to issue from the same roots. When stopped, they 

 M-Llom attain so great a height, but are much more elegant fa 

 their appearance, the produce of flowers being considerably more 

 than when onlv one spike is allowed to remain. 



I have adopted various methods in order to excel in blooming 

 this beautiful tribe ; but in none have I been so successful as 

 with the method now detailed, which I trust, if inserted, will 

 be of some benefit to the numerous reader-; of the Floriailtttral 

 Cabinet. ®u ^. 



Dou-nhnm Mar/,vt, Norfolk, Feb. VWt, 1834. 



__ 



fifv/ 

 ARTICLE XI. -On the Cultivation of the Genua Cactuft. 



By Mr. D. Puakcjk. , t , jjj 0:) 



Bettg an admirer of that beautiful genus of plants, the Cactus, 



1 now send you a paper on its cultivation, that has just come under 



mv observation, and which, if you think proper, I shall be glad to 



sue inserted in your Magazine. 



All the species of Cactus may be treated as follows : — Pot them 

 in loam and peat, or sandy loam, mixed with about a fourth part 

 ..! lime rabbisti Always let the pots in which they are planted 

 br Bfl ••mull as the plants will allow : large pots are injurious, 

 because the roots arc prevented from reaching the sides for so long 

 a time, ami the bodv of soil is liable to retain too much moisture 

 rv time the plaint is watered. Always give a good drainage, 

 bv laving in each pot a good portion of broken potsherds, — as the 

 le;tst stagnation is always injurious, sometimes fatal ; therefore, 

 never allow water to stand in the pans or feeders in which the pots 

 are sometimes placid. Water wry seldom, not more than twice 

 a MOClc when they are flowering, and not so often at other times ; 

 pjttre vei v little at a time, not more than will just moisten the soil 

 all over, particularly if the weather is not fine and sunny. About 

 the middle of June, turn them out of doors into a situation where 

 ibev will not be exposed to winds, but perfectly open to the rav- 

 el tbe mid-(la\ Bun. Place them OH a board or floor of any kind, 

 i.. ]in-\ Kin tbe worms ii<nn entering through the bottoms of the 

 pot-. Thu -\ tu in of exposing thetn in summer gives them a 

 afaralf wluob seMoqi fells to produce a good bloom. Whilst out 

 ol door-, tic \ must not be allowed to receive the heavy dashing 



