66 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOOK 



There are a number of dwarf - growing species of Agave 

 that are not so common, although they may be grown with 

 ease. Such plants add novelty to a collection, and may be 

 used through the summer as noted above or plunged with 

 cactus in a bed of tropical plants. All succeed well in 

 loam and sand in equal parts, adding a little leaf-mold in 

 the case of the small varieties. The more common species 

 are propagated by suckers from around the base of the 

 established plants. A few kinds having no suckers must 

 be grown from seed. As to watering, they demand no 

 special care. Agaves will not stand frost. 



Cereus. Under the name of NIGHT -BLOOMING 



CEREUS, several species of Cacti are cultivated. The name 

 is sometimes applied to species of Phyllocactus, the flowers 

 of which, in white and shades of red, sometimes open at 

 nightfall. Phyllocactuses are easy to grow. See Cactus. 

 The true Night-blooming Cereuses, however, are species of 

 the genus Cereus. The commonest oue is C. nycticalus, but 

 C. grandiflorus, C. triangularis and others are occasionally 

 seen. These true Night-blooming Cereuses all have long rod- 

 like stems, which are cylindrical or angular. These stems 

 often reach a height of 10 to 30 ft., and they need support. 

 They should be trained along a pillar or tied to a stake. 

 They are uninteresting leafless things during a large part 

 of the year ; but in midsummer, after they are three or 

 more years old, they throw out their great tubular flowers, 

 which open at nightfall and wither and die when the light 

 strikes them next morning. They are very easily grown, 

 either in pots or planted in the natural soil in the conserva- 

 tory. The only special care they need is good drainage at 

 the roots, so that the soil will not become soggy. 



Cherry. Of Cherries there are two common 

 types, the sweet Cherries and the sour Cherries. The sweet 

 Cherries are larger and taller -growing trees. They com- 

 prise the varieties known as the Hearts, Bigarreaus and 

 Dukes. The sour Cherries include the various kinds of 



