8 



ORNAMENTAL CACTI. 



the plant world by Dr. George Engelmann laid the foundation for 

 the large collection at the Missouri Botanical Garden at St. Louis, 

 Mo. Similar interest manifested by Dr. Asa Gray added mate- 

 rially to the collection at the Botanical Garden at Cambridge, Mass. 

 As the public became more acquainted with these bizarre forms 

 of vegetation, a livelier interest in them sprang up, and many persons 

 throughout the country began to gather private collections. Fan- 

 ciers became so numerous that in certain localities clubs or societies 

 were organized among them, where ideas and experiences as to the 

 culture of these plants could be discussed and specimens exchanged. 

 Experience was the high-priced teacher from whom these collectors 

 had to gain their knowledge. Similar organizations were formed in 

 Germany, where amateur collectors were numerous, and also in 

 France and in England. Many articles have been published in the 

 horticultural journals of these countries describing proper methods 

 of propagation and culture, and Mr. Watson, of the Kew Gardens, 

 England, issued a Handbook of Cactus Culture. These helps have 

 disseminated a better general knowledge of methods to be employed, 

 but the soil and climatic conditions of Europe differ so materially from 

 those of various parts of America that their rules are not well adapted 

 to our own special needs. 



The growing interest in this group of plants in America and the 

 inadaptability of rules for general gardening in growing them, as 

 well as of rules laid down for their special care by European growers, 

 have created a demand in this country for a work that will include 

 both general and special rules that may be applied to any part of 

 our country. To meet this demand is the writer's purpose in putting 

 forth this bulletin. Naturally, much of the material herein con- 

 tained is compiled from the experiences of others, but use of it is made 

 only in so far as it agrees with the writer's experience and obser- 

 vations, gained during the years spent in caring for the collection 

 at the Missouri Botanical Garden and in traveling through the native 

 haunts of these plants throughout the Southwestern States and in 

 Mexico, as well as in the examination of many private collections. 



PROPAGATION OF CACTI FROM SEEDS. 



Most cacti yield seeds abundantly. Ordinarily, few of these seeds 

 germinate and develop into mature' plants, because of unfavorable 

 environment. The seeds are usually fertile, however, and when 

 planted under proper conditions a large percentage of them will 

 germinate and with a little care will produce plants in abundance. 



The best soil for growing cacti from seed has proved to be a thor- 

 oughly decomposed sod mixed with at least its own volume of sand. 

 After these ingredients have been carefully mixed, they are run 



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