. . Cacti are of easy culture and give a wealth of blos¬ 
som for a minimum of*at tention. rn he natural-soil in which 
they are found has two important features in that i, is al¬ 
ways rr,tiler dry and deficient in orgaiis matter. Jfuch Ls 
written about soii for cacti but remembering the two above 
requisites will enable a person to use some material at 
hand. Giays or ixay loams are too retentive of Water; 
building sand is too coarse and loose aitho it i 3 useful 
in providing drainage in a soil to which it is added. 
Most soiis between these two extremes can be used if ade¬ 
quate drainage is supplied. Silt as found in irrigation 
ditches or stream beds is almo it an ideal material. Any 
soil used for cacti should be free from recent-" organic 
matter for while other plants nay respond to a highly or¬ 
ganic soii, leaf mold, or the like, a cactus is likely to 
become rotten in such a soil. Yet some well rotted orga.nic 
matter other than manure is desirable as our cacti do not 
naturally grow in a soii totally without organic material. 
Give a. cactus good drainage in a pot and water infrequently, 
especially in winter, yet do not expect a cactus to thrive 
without water. In a pot they need more water than when 
planted in the open. A cactus can be killed by drought but 
a temporary lack of water seems to fit natural, conditions 
better. Our cacti receive an average cf 12 inches of rain¬ 
fall annually, mostly during the growing season. Tianted 
in the open in dry climates they will shift for themselves 
with perhaps an occasional watering if they become wilted. 
In moist climates out of doors plant on an elevation of 
loose soil so that rotting will not occur thru poor drain- 
U-g® • A rotten plant is one that has been in contact with 
decaying material or one that has been over-watered. A 
plant just beginning to rot can usually be saved by remov¬ 
ing the diseased tissue and placing the wounded plant where 
it can dry for a week before replanting. Our cacti are 
shipped free from insect enemies. 
SJOJ 
'/e do not have seeds of all cacti listed and in some 
ooiore.do Species fruit and 3eed are unknown. V/e have seed 
of K ami1 laria viv ipara , Opunt ia arboresc ens, Opuntia 
rhoda ntha , and Opun tia polycantha. 
