140 Commercial Gardening 



to germinate in from two to four weeks, and will require pricking oft', as 

 soon as sufficiently large for handling, into 6-in. pots, using the same com- 

 post as for seeds. 



The seedlings will need to be kept under glass as before until estab- 

 lished, when they may be moved into a position where they will get more 

 light and air; a temperature of 60 to 65 F. by day and 5 degrees less at 

 night should be maintained. As they grow they require pricking off into 

 boxes, the ordinary seed trays for preference, using 5 parts of soil, 1 sand, 

 and \ each peat and leaf mould. One or two more prickings off may be 

 necessary, but too much root run is injurious to the young plants. Grow 

 the plants on in boxes until ready for the various- sized pots. For potting, 

 the last compost mentioned, but slightly rougher, will do admirably. Once 

 potted, and the plants well established, they are ready for sale. Careful 

 watering is necessary at all times, especially during the winter months, 

 when very little is required. Cuttings of Cacti and Succulents need to be 

 handled quite differently from any other cuttings. They must not be 

 inserted in soil until absolutely dry and firm at the base. This will take 

 from two weeks for Opuntias to four or six weeks for Cereus and Euphor- 

 bias, perhaps slightly longer in winter. They should be potted in the 

 ordinary manner, using the same compost, which should be nearly dry. 

 It must be kept dry until rooting commences, when water may be given 

 very sparingly until the plants are established. A fair number of plants 

 should be grown on to make large ones for seeds and cuttings. Most of 

 these plants should be taken out and repotted in the early spring each 

 year. Those varieties grown from seed should be kept in a cool airy 

 greenhouse facing south if possible during the summer. To flower well 

 the plants must be well ripened, and hand fertilization is necessary to 

 ensure seed. 



Mealy Bug is the chief pest of Cacti, but this may be kept down by 

 the usual methods. Sun-scald sometimes accompanies a too-sudden change 

 of temperature or atmosphere. 



The following are all proved varieties for market work; those marked 

 with an asterisk * are good seed-bearers. The rest give cuttings or offsets; 

 the majority of the seed-bearers will also give offsets. 



CEREUS. Atropurpureus, Baumanni, candicans, geometrizans, grandi- 

 florus, flagelliformis, marginatus, nycticalus, peruvianus and vars., para- 

 guayensis, speciosissimus, Schickendantsi, Seidelli, Spachianus. Seeds of 

 most of these varieties can be obtained from Continental growers. 



ECHINOCACTUS. Grahlianus,* mammillosus,* Ottonis and vars.* To 

 obtain offsets of these and other varieties scoop out the centres. Echino- 

 cacti require a higher temperature than most Cacti, and also plenty of air. 



ECHINOPSIS. Duvalli,* Eyresii,* minuscula,* multiplex,* triumphans,* 

 tubiflora,* turbinata,* Zuccariniana.* 



MAMMILLARIA. Arietina, bocosana,* cirrhifera and vars.,* crassispina, 

 elegans,* elongata and vars.,* gracilis,* Krameri,* nigra*, Petersoni,* 

 pusilla and vars.,* sanguinea,* Wildiana.* 



