^ J\}t ^ardco ai)d I^aLoi). ^ 



CACTUS TALKS. 



In commencing our Cactus chats we 

 may presume that in order to understand 

 the care of any plant, it is of advantage to 

 know what its natural habitat is, and under 

 what conditions it thrives and blooms in a 

 state of nature. All Cacti are 

 natives of the warmer portions of 

 the American continent, only one 

 variety, " Rhipsalis," has been 

 found a native of the old world. 

 " Opuntias " have become natur- 

 alized there, but all originated in 

 America. Mexico produces the 

 greatest variety. Their season of 

 growth is short during the hot 

 and rainy season, and their resting period 

 long when no ram falls ; they are found on 

 barren sandy plains and amongst rocks 

 with scarcely any soil ; so the three requi- 

 sites for success are a sandy porous soil, 

 all the heat possible in summer, and a long 

 period of dryness and rest in winter. 



The Phyllocact i. 

 To come to particulars, we will take first 

 the Phyllocactus class as being the most com- 

 mon and best known here ; in this class the 

 stems are generally flat, though sometimes 

 triangular, and, as the plant matures and gets 

 age, the stems near the root gradually assume 

 a round shape and become woody. In their 

 native homes they are mostly epiphytal, grow- 

 ing on trees, but non-parasitical, like a good 

 many of the Orchids ; but in cultivation they 

 do best in soil, which should be richer than 

 for the round or Hedgehog classes ; any good 

 soil suits them, if only made porous with sand ^ 

 or charcoal, or both. In summer they enjoy T^ 

 all the heat possible, but are apt to get burned 



(177) 



Fig. 769. — Quekn Cactus. 



