5 F. WEINBERG, WOODSIDE, L. I. 
GENERAL CULTURAL DIRECTION. 
Air, light and good drainage, either grown in pots or, if planted out, 
is what Cactus and the Hke plants of a succulent character should have in 
the first instance. SOIL. 
Miy own experience of fifteen years has convinced me that about three 
parts of good garden soil, one part leaf mould, one part of sand and one 
part of old lime rubbish, ashes or finely crushed bricks or broken pots, well 
mixed together, is about the best allaround soil for such plants in general, 
while for the globular species, especially echinocactus, a mixture of two parts 
of ordinary loam and one part of sand, will suit them best, which, especially 
for the larger plants, should be as coarse as possible. 
FERTILIZER. 
Cacti, especially the pilocereus and globular species, are rather slow 
growers and cannot be forced to make a rapid growth, therefore no fertilizer 
whatever should be used in growing them. Old cereus, of the climbing varie- 
ties, also Phyllocactus and Epiphyllums, may be benefited by an occasional 
watering with diluted cow or sheep manure, before or during flowering period. 
TEMPERATURE. 
• Most all cacti can be stored away in the cellar or other convenient place 
during winter, and a temperature of about forty degrees will hold them 
in a dormant state, but then they should be kept very dry. From April on the 
temperature can never be too high for them. During the hot summer Phyl- 
locactus, Rhipsalis and Epiphyllums, should be somewhat protected from 
the hot sun rays. WATERING 
cacti, the soal must never be allowed to get in a stagnant, saturated condi- 
tion, or the strongest plant will soon die; a little water every day will soon 
make the soil sour, therefore water your plants well and thoroughly, and, 
when the soil gets dry, water again. When growing outside in the open 
ground, they will need no watering at all, as the rain will supply them with 
all the water they need. ■ 
The cultural requirements of the different varieties Oif cacti and other 
succulents may more conveniently be referred to under the description of the 
different species or families. 
INSECTS. 
In large collections, cactus, as well as other plants, will sometimes be 
attacked by insects, such as ''scales," ''mealy bug," "red spider," etc. 
When mealy bugs or scales first appear they can easily be removed with 
a small pointed stick,- small stiff brush or by syringing with clear water, soap 
sud or tobacco solution. "Thrip" is a quite troublesome very minute, black, 
flylike, little insect, only attacking the Phyllocactus. The "mealy bug" re- 
sembling small lumps of cotton and must be checked as soon as possible, as 
they increase rapidly. "Scales" resemble small brown or black raised lumps, 
and easily removed with a small stiff brush or pointed stick. While all insecti- 
cides which are on the market are more or less very good if properly applied 
to, I would strongly recommend, especially for "mealy bug," my prepara- 
tion as described on page j6 
