464 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
July 13, 1907. 
- Cacti = 
To Grow Them. 
These neglected plants are worth atten¬ 
tion. They are quaint, beautiful, and 
easily grown, a statement, surely, which, 
if true, is a recommendation in these days 
of novelty hunting. Let us see how this 
works out. 
That they are quaint and. unusual any¬ 
one who has given them' the least notice 
will readily allow; their growth, form, 
and structure are strange to our part of 
the globe, whilst to look into the network 
of spines or, best of all, to see the mar¬ 
vellous flowers, some a foot across down 
to a tiny blossom ranging from white to 
crimson, or rich yellow, is to feel no hesi¬ 
tation as to their beauty, and those who 
cultivate them can endorse what I say 
that they are easily grown and require but 
little attention. 
They will flourish and thrive in any 
sunny window : many kinds grow to great 
perfection in cottage windows. I saw a 
fine one as I went along a village street 
the other day, thicker than my wrist and 
a foot or so in height. 
Then, if left without water for days, or 
in some cases weeks, they are not a bit 
the worse; in fact, much of the complaint 
one hears that they “ bloom but once in 
seven years ” is because they are soaked 
and soaked with water. A good lady who 
gave me some cuttings said “ they are 
water plants, and you must give them 
plenty ” when the opposite is, of course, 
the case. 
They are natives, generally, of tropical 
climes, where some of them attain a 
height of from 80 ft. to 100 ft., and plenty 
from 40 ft. to 60 ft. ; and though a Cactus 
plant may grow in this country under 
very adverse conditions, yet that treatment 
which most accords with its natural habi¬ 
tat is sure to bring about the best results. 
Naturally they grow in a light sandy 
soil, perhaps on some rocky hill, so that 
a light sandy soil mixed with bits of char¬ 
coal and a little old lime mortar, first 
putting a liberal supply of broken crock 
or crushed brick in the bottom of the pot 
so as to ensure' that all surplus water is 
effectively and speedily drained away, is 
the proper thing for these foreigners. 
Oyster shells are recommended by some 
for the bottom of potting loam, but this 
I have not tried. 
When first potted do not water at the 
roots for some days, till they show signs 
of growth. Jf cuttings are used lay them 
in the window for a few days before in¬ 
serting in the soil for the cut to harden 
over or get firm. Should decay set in at 
the bottom after potting, through too 
much moisture or other cause, cut off well 
above the decayed part and try again. 
April to May is considered to be the best 
time for this work; also for repotting. 
Small trots should be used, and the roots 
disturbed as little as possible. Handle 
carefully, a.s the prickles and spines are 
not nice things to have in one’s fingers, 
and some are said to be poisonous. 
When growth sets in, from April on, 
water as required, but not too freely, 
keeping soil always damp till August, 
then the thin-leaved kinds water about 
once a week, whilst the big bulbous kinds 
during winter can be left dry. The thin¬ 
leaved varieties want water perhaps once 
a month. The plants will turn a brown 
colour, some reddish, and look shrivelled, 
but this is a good sign and a promise of 
flowers next spring. The reason for giv¬ 
ing water during summer, and withhold¬ 
ing it during winter, is that in their native 
home there is a prolonged dry season with 
a scorching sun overhead, followed by the 
rainy season, when things get soaked 
through and through, and the Cacti drink 
into their bulbous structures a quantity 
which carries them along in fine form 
through the dry period. 
Window or greenhouse, sun as hot as 
our clime can furnish; sandy soil, careful 
watering, and you will get your reward. 
John Kibble. 
Strawberry Kentish Favourite. 
The fruits of this Strawberry are of 
large size, good flavour, and abundantly 
produced. Award of Merit by the 
R.H.S. on June 25th when shown by 
Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. 
- a. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
CENERAL CONDITIONS.— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayji any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or Bhort article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making Lie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition," and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. Entries received later 
thon Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
tLe following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “R. Thatcher” for the article on 
“ Hybrids of Nicotiana afflnis,” page 453. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ Kaffir ” for the article on 
“ Cucumbers for Exhibition ” ; and another 
to “ T. S. Dick ” for the article on “ Culture of 
Richardia afric ina,” page 448. 
Hoses - 
with Tulips 
Bed or Border. 
Beautiful though a bed of Roses is in 
the season, yet for a long period of the 
year, especially in spring, it is severely 
plain, and rather uninteresting from the 
spectacular point of view. For some 
years past I have been endeavouring to 
improve matters in this direction, and 
the results have been so entirely satis¬ 
factory that I beg to pass on the result 
of my experience to the readers of the 
Gardening World. 
My plan is to plant Tulips among the 
Roses. We go in for spring bedding, and 
I confine the planting of early Tulips 
to the parterre, but amongst a portion of 
our Roses I am growing late Tulips; 
Darwins, Parrots and various May-flower¬ 
ing varieties. The Rose bed or border 
should be rather deeply forked over 
about the first week of November, 
and the bulbs planted about three 
inches deep, and not too near the 
stems of the Rose trees. A bed or small 
border looks best planted entirely with 
one class of Tulips, but where a border 
of considerable length has to be dealt 
with it might be planted in blocks, either 
of a variety or a class, say, Earlies, 
Darwins, Parrots, or any of the ordinary 
May-flowering varieties, such as Golden 
Crown, Macrospeila, Gesneriana, Bou¬ 
ton d’Or, Bridesmaid, Picotee, etc. 
After the first season the ground should 
not be forked over till the Tulips appear 
in the spring for fear of injuring the 
bulbs. After three or four years’ experi¬ 
ence I can testify to the practicability of 
this system, Roses and Tulips doing well 
under it. 
I have no doubt that Daffodils could 
also be used for this purpose, but I would 
not advocate the planting of the stronger 
varieties, as they would be likely to rob 
the Roses of their food, and the welfare 
of these should be the first consideration. 
In addition to beautifying the Rose 
beds when they would be othenvise rather 
dull, a saving of space is thus effected, 
and this is a matter of considerable im¬ 
portance in many gardens, especially in 
those of amateurs. Even in large estab¬ 
lishments, when more or less hardy things 
are increasingly popular, the ground 
where late Tulips are grown is wanted 
before they can be lifted and heeled-in 
to ripen off. 
I hope some of my fellow readers will 
be induced to experiment in this direc¬ 
tion during the coming season, and il 
they do I feel sure they'- will not be dis¬ 
appointed. Q Q 
-- 
Melon Eminence. 
Some Melons under the above nam< 
were shown by Mr. J. McKellar, Roya 
Gardens, Windsor, at the meeting of th< 
R.H.S. on June 25th. The fruits wen 
about 5 lbs. each in weight, oval, deej 
yellow, closely and beautifully netted' 
Award of Merit was accorded them. 
