248 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 1832. Cacti. 



appears, when it is usually safely established, 

 and very likely some new oddity of spine en 

 the new plant is so very different from any- 

 thing yet obtained, that the desire for new 

 ones is greater than ever, if it were only to 



see what new variance is possible. The 

 number of Cacti lovers is growing- very fast, 

 and there is quite a demand for new vari- 

 eties. In some places where there are a 

 number of fanciers, they run around from 

 one house to the other, where there is always 

 something new to show, either new arrivals 

 or some rare specimen that is just in bloom. 

 In Woodstock there are a dozen or more 

 who have quite extensive collections, and 

 they are a source of mutual pleasure which 

 often brings their owners together. 



To tell of the numerous families of Cacti 

 would take too much space for one letter, 

 but I will later on, if allowed space, try and 

 give a short general description of some of 

 them, in the hope of awakening a still grester 

 interest in the strange genius. I would like 

 to have the names of all the cactus collectors 

 in Canada, for mutual benefit. In Wood- 

 stock the collectors have had a number of 

 classes made for their plants, and added to 

 the list of the Agricultural Society's fall 

 show. They also have a large space at 

 the annual exhibition of the Horticultural 

 Society. 



J. H. Callandar. 

 Woodstock, Ont. 



SWEET PEAS. 



To grow Sweet Peas successfully the fol- 

 lowing rules should be observed : 



Sweet peas should not be planted on the 

 same ground after culinary peas. 



Excessive manuring with stable manure 

 in the row immediately before sowing the 

 seed is not desirable. Ground intended for 

 sweet peas if not left in good condition after 

 taking the last crop will be better for ma- 

 nuring the previous fall rather than at the 

 spring seeding. 



The use of artificial fertilizers, the so-called 

 "phosphates," bone meal, nitrate of soda. 



etc., can be made in spring at the time of 

 planting or soon after. 



Thin sowing, by which is meant planting 

 the seeds from four to six inches apart, is 

 conducive to vigor and strength of the plants 

 which come later into bloom, but continue 

 much longer than plants from thick seeding. 



Frequent stirring of the soil with hoe or 

 cultivator in dry weather, thus producing a 

 dust mulch, is preferable to artificial water- 

 ing, unless irrigating facilities afl'ord oppor- 

 tunities for a regular and abundant supply 

 of water. — Vick's Magazine. 



