52 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



Cacalia. TASSEL FLOWER. LADIES' PAINT 



BRUSH. A quaint old annual, in two colors, scarlet and 

 orange. It is easily grown, and makes a fine second-row 

 plant for a border, contrasting well with Browallia or Agera- 

 tum. Sow where the plants are to stand. Let plants stand 

 10-12 inches apart. Grow l%-2 ft. high. 



Cactus. This class of plants is often seen in 

 small collections of house plants, to which they add in- 

 terest, being altogether different from other plants. All 

 Cacti are easy to grow, requiring but little care and endur- 

 ing the heat and dryness of a living room much better than 

 most other plants. Their requirements are ample drainage 

 and a sandy soil. Cactus growers usually make a soil by 

 mixing pulverized plaster or lime refuse with garden 

 loam, using about two-thirds of the loam. The very fine 

 parts, or dust, of the plaster, are blown out, else the soil 

 is likely to cement. They may be rested at any season by 

 simply setting them away in a dry place for two or three 

 months, and bringing them into heat and light when they 

 are wanted. As new growth advances they should have 

 water occasionally,' and when in bloom they should be 

 watered freely. Withhold water gradually after blooming 

 until they are to be rested. 



Some of the most common species in cultivation are the 

 Phyllocactus species, often called the Night-blooming Cereus. 

 These are not the true Night-blooming Cereuses, which have 

 angular or cylindrical stems, covered with bristles, while 

 this has flat, leaf -like branches; the flowers of these, how- 

 ever, are very much like the Cereus, opening at evening 

 and closing before morning, and as the Phyllocacti may be 

 grown with greater ease, blooming on smaller and younger 

 plants, they are to be recommended. See Cereus. 



The Epiphyllum, or Lobster Cactus, is one of the best 

 of the family, easy of culture. It bears bright -colored 

 blossoms at the end of each joint. When in flower, which 



