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GERMAIN FRUIT COMPANY’S 
CACTI. 
The most Wonderful Family of Plants in Existence. 
NOTE.—All varieties of Cacti and Succulents offered in this list are priced mail or 
express charges free , to any part of the United States. 
The Cactus family contains many of the most singular and grotesque, as well as the most beautiful 
productions of the vegetable world. 
The flowers of many of the species are most gorgeous, of others the most delicate and beautiful known 
to botanists. Of distinctive and striking forms, there is no end in this strange family. 
Nearly all the species require but little care, will endure any amount of ill treatment and will thrive 
and blossom where other plants starve. The plants themselves are a bright green during summer and 
winter, while their individuality is so marked and their manner of growth so curious and unique that no 
one who has ever cultivated them can fail to appreciate and admire. 
As a house plant they have no superiors, grouped with bright colored stones in the form of a rockery 
or even massed artificially in a large flower pot or fernery base they make a most handsome and unique 
parlor ornament. They may also be grown successfully out of doors, forming most beautiful and 
grotesque objects. 
Cacti for Indoor Rockeries. 
The following article was written by Mr. Elias A. Long of Buffalo, N. Y., in "Popular Gardening” : 
"In order to enjoy the greatest possible share of pleasure, with the least possible inconvenience in 
growing a fair collection of Cactuses, the writer has adopted for house use a method which he has not be¬ 
fore now seen employed in Cactus houses. It is to set a 
dozen or more plants in a mass in one large pot or other 
receptacle for earth, the surface of which is treated as a 
miniature rockery, and with the center considerably 
higher than the edge. Recently, in thus disposing of a 
fine collection, an ordinary fernery base, bought at a local 
seed store, was used for holding earth. This was planted 
as shown in the engraving, and up to the present time it 
has developed into the most handsome and unique parlor 
ornament we think we have ever seen. It is the admir¬ 
ation of all our friends, not only because of the charm¬ 
ing effect created by the various forms and colors of the 
plants themselves, but because in one or another of these 
it is rarely without a flower. The addition of the rockery 
feature affords advantages in several ways. First, by the 
selection of pleasing colors of stone, as marble and 
granite, red and gray, and other kinds, as they may be 
had in fragments from the stone cutter’s yard, and then 
of a few seashore pebbles, etc., a handsome contrast in 
color with the Cactuses is produced. The stones also en¬ 
able one to build up the soil (this we prefer to have con¬ 
sist of one-half sand) mound-like, in a way that is con¬ 
ducive to providing the dryness of soil which all Cac¬ 
tuses enjoy.” 
With regard to the culture of Cacti, it is found that, 
generally speaking, they ought to be watered sparingly 
while dormant and freely when in bloom, and grown in a light sandy soil, always bearing in mind that 
wherever planted the drainage must be perfect, for if the soil be allowed to get in a stagnant, saturated 
condition, the strongest plants will soon die. 
When potting, cut off all dead, dried roots close to the stems, and select pots slightly larger than the 
diameter of the plant; or, just large enough to hold the roots correctly spread out. The soil should be 
in a semi-dry condition so that it may be easily worked in amongst the roots. A small stick maybe used 
to advantage in pressing the soil firmly around the plant, leaving sufficient space between the soil and 
rim of pot to facilitate watering. 
Under the heading of each genera we give brief instructions as to the character of soil found most 
suitable to successful culture. 
Cactus Rockery for the Window, 
