Cactus Culture For Amateurs

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in reference to the

pain, whilst others stand like lonely sentinels keeping their dreary watch on the edge of precipices." In the West Indies most of the night-flowering kinds are common, their long, creeping stems clinging by means of aerial roots to rocks, or to the exposed trunks of trees, where their enormous, often fragrant, flowers are produced in great abundance, expanding only after the sun has set. Between these three distinct groups we find among the plants of this elegant genus great variety both in size and form of the stem and in the flower characters of the different species. A large proportion of the 200 kinds known are not cultiv

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to stones or wood in the same way as ivy does, these kinds soon spread over and cover a large space; they are, therefore, useful for training over the back walls in lean-to houses, or for growing against rafters or pillars-in fact, in any position exposed to bright sunlight and where there is a good circulation of air. Soil does not appear to play an important part with these plants, as they will grow anywhere where there is a little brick rubble, gravel, or cinders for their basal roots to

from some cause or other, and to save the specimen, a mound was built up of brick rubble and soil, high enough to surround the base of the plant above the rotted part. In a few weeks there was a good crop of new roots formed, and the plant has sinc

ormed of the long-pointed sepals and petals, the former yellow, green, and red, the latter white, tinted with rose. The flower is about 9 in. across. When in blossom, this plant equals in beauty the finest of the climbing Cactuses, but, unfortunately, it does not flower as freely as most of its kind. It is cultivated at Kew, where it has flowered once during the last five years. A native of Trinidad, whence it was in

supposed to be a hybrid between C. Pitajayi or variabilis and one of the scarlet-flowered Phyllocactuses, or, possibly, C. speciosissimus. It first flowered at Kew, in July, 1870. Stems bright green, slow-growing, three or four-angled, about 2 in. wide; angles much compressed, so that a section of the stem shows a cross; margins notched, with clusters of short, hair-like spines at each notch. Flowers 6 in. long, and about the same across

bud before it is fully open and placing it in water. The stems are almost cylindrical, with four to seven slight ridges, or angles, which bear numerous tufts of wool and short stiff spines. Roots are thrown out from all parts of the stem, even when not in contact with anything. The flowers are developed on the sides of the stems, principally the younger, shorter ones; the flower tube is about 4 in. long by 1 in. in diameter, and is covered with short brown scales and whitish hairs; the calyx i

, as in C. grandiflorus, and they are tinged with crimson; the stem of the plant shows a bluntly triangular section, and the angles are marked with a row of distant spines instead of the clusters of spines and wool in C. grandiflorus. In all other particulars, these two species are almost identical, so that where space is limited either the one or the other

e stems of this kind, and as the latter are slender and very pliant, they may be trained round a balloon trellis, so as to form handsome pot specimens, which, when in flower, may be carried into the house, where their large, beautiful flowers may be enjoyed. Writing of this species over thirty years ago, Sir Wm. Hooker said: "Certainly, of the many floral spectacles that have gratified lovers of horticulture at the Royal Gardens, Kew, of late years, few have been more striking than this to those who were privileged t

the day-time. The flower tube is 6 in. long, curved upwards, and clothed with rose-tinted scales, which become gradually larger towards the top, where they widen out into a whorl of greenish-yellow sepals, above which are the white petals form

nd arranged like a cup. They open at about seven o'clock in the evening, and fade at seven on the following morning. This plant may still be met with in some old-fashioned gardens, but only rarely as compared with its popularity a generation ago, when it was to be found in almost every collection of stove plants. At that time, the flowering of this Cact

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e in contact. There are large examples of it in the Kew collection, where it bears numerous flowers annually, which open in the evening and close at about eight o'clock next morning. The flowers measure 1 ft. in length by about the same in width of cu

will be found suitable. When well grown and flowered it surpasses in brilliancy of colours almost every other plant known. Specimens with thirty stems each 6 ft. high, and bearing from sixty to eighty buds and flowers upon them at one time, may be grown by anyone possessing a warm greenhouse. The stems are three to five angled, spiny, the tufts of spines set in little disks of whitish wool. The flowers are as large as tea saucers, with tubes about 4 in. long, the colour being an intense crimson or violet, so intense and bright as to dazzle the eyes when looked at in bright sunlight. When cut and placed in water they will last three or four days. April and May. Me

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n the stem of some erect, slender Cereus or Pereskia, or they may be worked on to the stem of a climbing Cereus, such as C. triangularis, in such a way as to hang from the roof of a house. A large specimen of C. flagelliformis, growing from the climbing stem of C. rostratus, was, for a long time, conspicuous among the Cactuses at Kew, but owing to the decay of the "stock" plant, this fine specimen no longer exists. A large Pereskia, trained along the roo

y the peasants there, that the whole window space is completely screened by the numerous long, tail-like stems, 4 ft. or 6 ft. long, which hang from baskets. It is sometimes cultivated by cottagers in England, and we have seen a very fine specimen in a cottager's window in Gunnersbury. Without its pretty bright-coloured flowers, this Cactus has the charm of novelty

to those of the last-named, but thicker and slightly less spiny, and flowers 4 in. long by 4 in. across the spreading petals, the whole being bright red with a cluster of pale yellow stamens protruding 1 in. beyond the throat. The flowers are produced from the sides of the stems, a few inches from the apex, and as

re usually purplish. Flowers large, handsome, fragrant; tube 6in, long, green; petals and sepals spreading and forming a star 3 in. in diameter, the petals purplish on the outside, and pinkish-white inside; stamens arranged in a sort of cup 1 in. deep. This plant rarely produces aerial roots. S

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d, some of the specimens being as tall as the house they are in will allow them to be, and the appearance they present is, to some eyes at least, a very attractive one. Such plants are: C. candicans, which is a cluster-stemmed kind, very thick and fleshy, and in shape like an Indian club; C. chilensis;-with tall hedgehog-skinned stems, the numerous ridges being thickly clothed with clusters of yellowish sp

e flowers are produced on the young upright stems, and they are as much as 4 in. across. They are composed of a regular ring of strap-shaped, bright purple petals, springing from the erect bristly tube, and in the centre a disk-like cluster of rose-coloured stamens, the stigma standing well above them. In form the flowers are not unlike some of the Sunflowers or Mutisia decurrens. They are developed in summer, and on well-grown plants the display of blossom is exceptionally fine. This species is sometimes known as C. repens and C. Deppii

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ch is a deep rose, flushed in the throat with crimson. A comparison of the figures here given will show the differences better than any description. C. Blankii comes from Mexico at high elevations, and thrives und

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ng, the tube covered with reddish-grey scales, which pass upwards into the sepals; petals spreading, white, the margins toothed, and forming a spreading top, not unlike a large white single Camellia; the stamens are arranged in a sort of cup, and are yellow-anthered, with a large rayed yellow stigma in the middle. In the Botanical Magazine it is stated that the flowers of this species are equal and even superior

rs are produced on the top of the stems, and are short-tubed, the tube clothed with little bundles of spines; spread of the petals (from thirty to forty in each flower), 4 in.; colour deep rose; anthers and stigma forming an eye-like cluster, the former yellow, and the latter bright green. Flowered at Kew for the first time in 1882, but, although new to cultivation, it is becoming plentiful. Native of New Mexico and Texas. For windows or small greenhouses this is a most suit

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t hair-like spines, arranged in a star, and surrounding three or four central erect spines, all whitish and transparent. Flowering branches erect, 4 in. high, by about 1 in. in diameter, bearing, near the apex, the large bright red flow

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p of the stem; tube short, spiny; petals spreading, like a Convolvulus, 3 in. to 4 in. across, bright yellow; stamens yellow, pistil white. The flowers expand at about 9 a.m., and close again soon after noon. They are developed in June or July. This species is a native of Texas, and is rare in cultivation. When not in flower it might easily be mistaken for Echinocactus pectinatus

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i-transparent, variable in length, longest about 1 in. There are frequently as many as twelve spines in a tuft, although the specific name implies eight spines only. Flowers on the ridges near the top of the stem, with spiny tubes, spreading petals of a deep purple colour, and yellow stamens and pistil. They a

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diameter, and of a bright purple colour; stigma and anthers green. It produces its flowers in June. It was introduced from the mountainous region of New Mexico about five years ago, and has blossomed freely in several collections, notably in that of Mr. Loder, of Northampton, who has cultivated this and several other species from the same region in a sunny sheltered position out of doors, where, for several years, they have withstood winter'

, the stems are globose, afterwards becoming club-shaped or cylindrical. It flowers at the height of 10 ft. or 12 ft., but grows up to four or five times that height, when it develops lateral branches, which curve upwards, and present the appearance of immense candelabra. The flowers are 4 in. or 5 in. long, and about the same in diameter. There is a small specimen, about 3 ft. high, in the succulent collection at Kew. The appearan

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h shorter. The flowers are produced on the top of the stem, four or five together, and are large, handsome, brick-red in colour, the tube 2 in. long, clothed with yellowish, green-tipped scales, and little clusters of hair-like bristles. The arrangement of the petals, and the cluster of yellow anthers in the centre, give the flowers the appearance of Camellias, if

these, when expanded, last about eight days before withering; they close every afternoon, opening about ten o'clock in the morning. The petals are arranged in a single series, spreading so as to form a shallow cup, and are notched on the edges near the upper end. They are coloured a deep purple-lilac on the upper half, the lower part being white, like a large pied daisy. The stamens are

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6 in. to 8 in. long, and about the same across the spreading petals; tube clothed with small, hairy scales; the sepals long and pointed; petals 2 in. or more long, 1 in. wide, spreading out quite flat; stamens arranged in a ri

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umerous crumpled, flattened branches. It is remarkable as a monster form of the type plan

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in. long, and each tuft containing about eight spines. When young, the stems are more like some of the Mamillarias than the Cereuses. The flowers are developed near the top of the stem, two or three opening together; they are composed of a tube 2 in. long, clothed with long spines and large, green, scaly sepals below, the latter gradually enlarging till at the top they become as large as the petals, which are 2 in. long, with a spread of nearly 3 in., rounded at the tips, and coloured deep blood-red, tinged with orange inside

re wavy. The flowers are about 3 in. wide, spreading, the petals, broad and overlapping, rose-coloured, except in the centre of the flower, where they become almost pure white; the anthers are yellow, whilst the colour of the rayed stigma is purplish-blue. A native of Mexico, intro

pure white above, tinged with red below, and forming a large saucer, in the middle of which the numerous stamens, with yellow anthers, are arranged in a crown. There is something incongruous in the tall, spine-clothed, pole-like stem, upon which large, beautiful, water-lily-like flowers are deve

dozen spines in each cluster, the central one much the largest. The flowers are about 8 in. long, the tube being rather thick and cylinder-like, expanding at the top, so as to form a sort of cup, in which the petals are arranged in several rows, with the middle filled by the numerous

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? in. apart. The flowers are 2 in. to 3 in. long; the tube spiny; the petals semi-erect and concave, rounded at the tip, and forming a shallow cup or wine-glass-like flower; the colour of the petals is deep blood-red. This beautiful Cactus is exceptional in the length of time its flowers remain expanded and fres

the ends of the branches, and are 3 in. long and wide, the sepals spreading and recurved, as in a Paris daisy, their colour being bright rose purple. The anthers form a corona-like ring, inclosing the upright, rayed stigma. A native of Mexico; flowers in May and June. In its native haunts we learn t

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stem, three or four opening together, each being 3 in. long and wide; the tube short and scaly, with overlapping sepals and saw-edged petals, which are white, slightly tinged with rose. Stamens filling the whole of the flower-cup, bright yellow. A native of Mexico, introduced in 1796, flowering in summer. This species was evidently a favourite many years ago, but it is rare w

own, and persistent; there is a little cushion of white wool about the base of the spines. Flowers produced on the side, within a few inches of the top of the stem; they are composed of a scaly tube, 4 in. long, a circular row of spreading, incurved, pale brown sepals, and two rows of broad, overlapping, snow-white peta

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igh, 2 in. in diameter, with about ten acute ridges, along which are little tufts of white wool about the base of the clustering spines, which are dark brown and 1 in. long. The flower-tube is 2 in. long, thick, spineless, scaly, the scales b

tube 6 in. long, smooth, fleshy, with a few scales near the top, and a whorl of greenish, strap-shaped, pointed sepals, the petals spreading, with toothed margins and a long acute point, white or cream-coloured; anthers yellow. A native of various parts of South America and the West Indies, but always close to the sea. It flowers in July; the flowers, which open generally in the evening