Gardening for Amateurs 



757 



Photo : y. Bell, 



Phyllocactus grown in a sunny window. 



Succulents for the Greenhouse 



THE numerous succulent plants form 

 an extensive class, the members of 

 which differ widely from each other 

 in many particulars. For instance, there 

 are the stately Agaves, and the quaint 

 Cacti, and such as Crassula, Epiphyllum, 

 Kalanchoe and Phyllocactus which are 

 remarkable for their showy blossoms. As 

 succulents are natives of various parts 

 of the globe, and vary considerably in 

 their cultural requirements, no hard-and- 

 fast line can be laid down in this respect, 

 though all of them dislike an excess of 

 moisture. Care in this respect is especi- 

 ally necessary during the winter season, 

 when growth is practically dormant, as suc- 

 -culents are able to store up a considerable 

 amount of moisture, on which they can 

 -exist for a long time. They may be watered , 



more freely during the summer, when the 

 conditions that prevail are more in accord- 

 ance with those experienced in a state of 

 nature namely, plenty of air and sunshine, 

 for they should be given full exposure to 

 the sun at all seasons, except when in 

 bloom. During that period a little shade 

 is beneficial, in that it preserves the fresh- 

 ness of the flowers. 



Miniature Cacti. Tiny plants of Cacti 

 in small pots are very popular at the present 

 day. When arranged in small greenhouse- 

 like structures they form a very pleasing 

 feature in the window of a dwelling-house. 

 From the fact that the small pots allow of 

 only a very limited amount of soil being 

 used the plants may at all events during 

 bright weather be watered more freely than 

 others in pots of ordinary size. They do not 



