CULTURE OF THE STOVE SPECIES OF CACTUS. 
217 
FLORICULTURE. 
ARTICLE XI.—CULTURE OF THE STOVE SPECIES OF CACTUS. 
All the stove species of Cactae may be treated as follows :— 
Pot them in loam and peat, or sandy loam, mixed with a small 
portion of lime rnbbish, say about a fourth part. 
Always let the pots in which they are planted he as small as the 
plants will allow ; large pots are injurious, because the roots are pre¬ 
vented from reaching the sides for so long a time, and the body of 
soil is liable to retain too much moisture every time the plant is wa¬ 
tered. 
Always give a good drainage, by laying in each pot a good portion 
of broken potsherds, as the least stagnation is always injurious, some¬ 
times fatal; therefore, never allow water to stand in the pans or feed¬ 
ers, in which the pots are sometimes placed. 
Water very seldom, not more than twice a week, when they are 
flowering, and not so often at other times; give very little at a time, 
not more than will just moisten the soil all over, particularly if the 
weather is not fine and sunny. 
About the middle of June, turn them out of doors, into a situation 
where they will not be exposed to wind, but perfectly open to the 
rays of the mid-day sun. Place them on a board or floor of any 
kind, to prevent the worms from effecting an entrance through the 
bottom of the pots. This system of exposing them in summer, gives 
them a check which seldom fails to produce a good bloom. 
Whilst out of dooi£, they must be allowed to receive the heavy 
dashing rains, or they will suffer, perhaps, die in consequence; ei¬ 
ther a boarded roof or other shelter must be provided for them on 
such occasions. Also, if the pots stand on a floor of slates or flag 
stones, they should be partly plunged in a little moss, as the sun, by 
heating the pots, sometimes burns the roots of the plants. 
In September, take the plants into the greenhouse, and place them 
in a situation where they will receive plenty of light and air during 
winter. 
Early in the spring, remove them into the stove in succession, as 
they are wanted to flower. 
Most of the species will flower very fine without being placed out 
of doors at all; but by placing them out as above, the flowers will be 
much finer and more abundant than when grown regularly in the 
house; they may be increased by cuttings, seeds, and grafting. 
Take of the cuttings at the length required, and lay them on a 
