act that it is almost unbelievable
and unreal, I prefer flowers a little less fervid and more constant.

There are, however, two distinct advantages which most of the cacti
possess, making them available for use where no other plants could be
kept. They are practically proof against any hardships that may be
imposed upon them, and they take up very little room. In addition to
that they are always an interesting curiosity, and for that reason alone
well worth the little attention they require. The low-growing sorts,
among which some of the most curious are to be found, may be given a
narrow shelf or the edge of the plant shelf in the winter window garden.

As far as care and soil are concerned, their requirements are simple.
The most important thing to see to is that they are given perfect
drainage. The soil should be sandy, and coal ashes, or better still, old
plastering or lime rubbish, should be added. Only a moderate amount of
water will be required in winter, but when the plants are set outside
in a well drained position in summer they should be showered frequently.
As to temperature, although they come from hot climates, most of the
sorts will stand as low as thirty-five degrees without injury. Just
before and during the blooming period about sixty degrees is desirable,
but forty-five to fifty degrees will be better at other times. Where
room is lacking, they may, for the most part, be wintered over in the
cellar, as described previously for other plants (page 71). Propagation
is performed either by seeds or cuttings, the latter being the more
generally used, as they root very readily--just break a piece off and
stick it in the sand.

Considered from the layman's point of view, cacti are made up of two
classes: those which are valued for their wonderful flowers and those
which excite curiosity by their weird habits of growth. Some of the
latter--such as the Crown of Thorns and the _Mammillaria_--have small or
infrequent flowers.

Specimens of this class, well cared for, are worthy of a place in any
collection of flowering plants. They will stand, especially during the
flowering period, weak applications of manure water.

The _Epiphyllums_ or Crab cacti (_Ephiphyllum truncatum_ and its
varieties) are by far the most valuable, because of their profuse and
long flowering season, especially as it comes in the winter when bright
flowers are scarce. _E. t. coccineum_, with deep scarlet flowers, is
one of the best. _