THE 



VOL. IX.] 



JULY, 1886. 



[No. 7. 



THE CACTUS. 



A much needed service has been 

 rendered to cultivators of the cactus 

 by Mr. A. Blanc, of Philadelphia, 

 Penn., U.S.A., in the publication of 

 his catalogue of cactus plants, wherein 

 is not only a full description of many 

 valuable varieties, accompanied in many 

 instances with eniiravinofs ffivinc; the 

 appearance of the plants and of their 

 flowers, but also hints as to their culti- 

 vation, in which full directions are 

 given concerning the soil to be used, 

 the temperature required, and the 

 various details needing attention to 

 .secure success. Accompanying this 

 neat little work was a letter from Mr. 

 Blanc oflfering us the use of such of 

 the cuts as we might wish, for the pur- 

 pose of giving our readers a better ap- 

 preciation of the appearance of some of 

 these very curious and interesting 

 [dants, than can possibly be given by 

 uny verbal description. We have 

 availed ourselves of this very kind 

 offer, and present our readers in this 

 number with a plate containing four 

 <lifferent species. 



To those who wish to grow plants in 

 the house, the cactus family offers 

 many varieties that will thrive in the 

 <lry and heated atmosj^here of a room, 



where most other plants suffer and 

 often perish. Besides, they are very 

 patient of neglect. You may forget to 

 water them for a month, and they will 

 not show proper resentment by droop- 

 ing and dying, but patiently wait for 

 your return to thoughtfulness. They 

 do not object to sunlight, nay the hot- 

 ter and fiercer its rays fall upon them 

 the better they thrive ; so that if you 

 can give them a shelf at the window, 

 and heat enough to keep out frost in 

 winter, with water when they are grow- 

 ing and blooming, they will almost take 

 care of themselves the rest of the time. 

 The soil which they require is any 

 good loam well mixed with sand, so 

 that it shall be porous, and thoroughly 

 drained. If the bottom of the pot be 

 filled half way to the top with bits of 

 broken pots, so much the better. Dur- 

 ing the winter they will need but very 

 little water. Mr. Blanc says if the 

 whole tissue of the plants seems to be 

 plump and full, no water is needed ; 

 but, if there be the slightest approach 

 to laxness, or a dulness in the surface 

 color, then water should be given. In 

 the spring and early summer when the 

 plants are growing rapidly, they will 

 require water twice or thrice a week. 



