Cacti and other 

 Succulents. 



F. ^l. Mark. 



The chief characteristics of succulent plants are their great 

 diversity and peculiarity of form, and on this account alone they 

 are worthy of cultivation, for they diifer so much in appear- 

 ance from the general run of plants as to afford a complete 

 change to the eye. But besides being peculiar, many are very 

 ornamental and bear handsome flowers, and as such are worthy 

 of being treated as something more than mere curiosities. 



Culture. — Provided a few essential conditions be observed, 

 there are few plants that are more easily cultivated than succu- 

 lents, or that require so little attention. The most important 

 condition is that they should be provided with a house to them- 

 selves. There are many plants of this class that may be culti- 

 vated with a fair amount of success along with others requiring 

 totally different conditions ; but the success so obtained is never 

 equal to what can be done when they are grown alone. 



The house should be very light, airy, and well drained. The 

 drainage is very important, as for a great part of the year the 

 house will require to be kept dry, and at no time should water 

 be allowed to remain on the floors. For this reason it is 

 advisable that the flooring of the house be above the level of 

 the surrounding ground ; it is also better, if space permit, for 

 a division to be made, one part of the structure to be warm 

 (with a temperature of from 55deg. to 65deg.) and the other 



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