783 784 



and used in rockeries and out-door ter though water should never touch 



plantings in the eastern United States the surface of the plant, especially in 



and in Europe, but even they will not the heat of the sun a safe, in fact 



withstand a low temperature when an indispensable, rule with all cacti, 



abundantly supplied with water, but In planning a large cactus garden 



most be kept dry during the cold intended to accommodate all known 



months. In California these plants varieties I laid the ground off in 



have not seemed to enjoy themselves squares and triangles, alloting a sep- 



imder the usual conditions. arate square to each region. All the 



The species which occur in Texas, California varities were to be grouped 

 New Mexico and Arizona, and in the together the cacti along with the 

 Californian deserts are next in hardi- Yuccas, Agaves and other succulents, 

 ness, but occurring as they do under together with plants especially char- 

 direrse, and adverse conditions to acteristic of the flora of the section 

 most plant life, they do not all re- being grown together. The United 

 sppnd to the same treatment. The States were thus to be represented 

 prickly pears will mostly thrive under by the California, the Arizona and 

 any treatment that involves a moder- the Texas squares, while the few 

 ate supply of water; the giant Cereus species of Colorado and the Atlantic 

 of the desert seems always thirsty for coast would be kept separate. Near- 

 more water and will make a good ly all the Mexican states would be 

 use of an abundance making rapid separately represented, the epiphytes 

 growth when planted in rich soil and going with those of Central and 

 not stinted for water. But the hermit South America under lath. Other 

 cactus (Echinocactus polyancistrus) squares ^ould be devoted to the 

 of the Mojave Desert region is seem- South American republics as they be- 

 mgly impatient of a drop of water, come well represented, and to the 

 and like many other desert species, spiny or suculent plants of Aus- 

 soon dies in cultivation. I have been tralia, Ceylon, South Africa, and other 

 anxious to try these in our climate regions. 



tinder glass without their being sub- These squares were to be supple- 



ject to ocean fog or winter rain, and mented with lath and glass to provide 



I believe that they can be so grown for the needs of all the plants and 



without losing the brilliant colors of there being an abundance of land, it 



the spines which are so characteristic wa s hoped that each species might be 



of them in their native haunts. enabled to attain to its greatest devel- 



The cacti of the coast regions, both opment. Thus the giant Cereus can- 

 temperate and torrid, thrive under delabrum, with arms spreading fifty 

 great heat, abundant moisture and in feet, would require room to grow in, 

 rich soil, as do most of the epiphytal that would not be accorded to an 

 species of the forests of Central and Echinocactus or a Mammillaria 

 South America. These are classed as which latter requires but a few inches 

 stove or greenhouse plants in the east of space. The fruit-bearing opuntias 

 and in Europe, but in Southern Cali- also often attain wide proportions 

 fornia it is usually sufficient to give clumps of our native species often 

 them the shade of a lath house in a being found fifty feet in diameter. A 

 frostless situation. The Phyllocacti, number of the Cerei like the velvet 

 Ephyllums and others, however, will cactus and the cord-wood cactus, also 

 do better under glass along with the require abundant ground, more than 

 Euphorbias though many of these usually accorded to them while one 

 will make luxuriant growth in the species, Cereus alamosensis, of Son- 

 open where good soil, good drain- ora , while seldom more than a few- 

 age, and a fair supply of water are f ee t high, yet naturally covers a di- 

 furnished. ameter of "a hundred feet its arch- 



The climbing cacti are all natives mg branches reaching out and rooting 



of the tropics, but in Southern Cal- a t each approach to the earth, 



ifornia thrive excellently where given Such a cactus garden could only 



a sunny exposure and abundant wa- thrive in Southern California in a sit- 



