THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. Ill 



be saved from the plants having the best habit for next season'.s 

 growth. 



I have little doubt that the common Mignonette will be super- 

 seded, so far as the growth of standards is concerned, by the new 

 variety named grand/flora. It appears a very robust grower, with 

 fine broad foliage, and will consequently require less time in forming 

 a standard. 



TEEATMENT OF CACTUSES IN" WINDOWS AND 

 IN THE OPEN AIB. 



BY AN AMATEUR. 



jHE plants commonly called by the name of Cactus belong 

 to the natural order Cactacese, but are known among 

 botanists and scientific gardeners by various appellations 

 more or less distinctive of their generic peculiarities : 

 as, for instance, the Epiphyllum, from a Greek word 

 signifying upon a leaf, in allusion to tbe flowers growing upon the 

 flat stems, commonly called leaves ; and the Cereus, so called from 

 the waxy and pliant nature of the shoots of some of the species ; the 

 Latin word cereus meaniug waxy. 



Cactuses are very common in this country, on account of the 

 rough treatment they will bear ; for, although they are natives of 

 hot climates, as Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, and consequently soon 

 killed by frosts, yet in other respects they are sufficiently hardy to 

 allow of their general cultivation. They are magnificent objects in 

 the stoves and conservatories of the wealthy, where they startle by 

 the contrast between their gorgeous flowers and wrinkled unsightly 

 stems ; they also help to set out many a cottage window, and they are 

 usually found, to some extent, among the floral collections of the 

 middle classes. Yet with this general disposition to cultivate them, 

 few plants are less understood in those habits on which their suc- 

 cessful flowering depends. 



" 1 wish you would look at my Cactus," said a lady to the writer 

 the other day; "it is a very fine plant, but it never flowers." On 

 being introduced to this unproductive occupier of pot and window 

 room, a fine piece of vegetation indeed presented itself; above a yard 

 high, as green as grass, and every flat stem as plump as a traditionary 

 nlderman. " Madam," t-aid the writer, " you feed your plant too 

 much, and in order to make it flower you must at certain times adopt 

 the starving system."' Ee informed her he had one of the same 

 kind, commonly called Cactus Jenkinsonii, not near so tall, and very 

 inferior in - moonpoint and general handsomeness, which yet bore 

 above a hundred flowers last season. The inquirer expressed her 

 wonder at this, and received the following account of the method 

 adopted to produce such a result ; it is now submitted to those 

 readers of the Floral Would who may wish to make fat and green 

 Cactuses bring some tribute to their floral temple. 



In the natural home of the Cactua, there is a moist and a dry 



April. 



