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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-11-27, Page 22aER 7* 1969 t cactuses spectacu showy Mowers. Collecting ' and growing cactuses for their odd forms and exquisite blooms has been a hobby in Europe for more than a century, but in North America, particularly here in Canada, it has been in strong vogue for only about 20 years. Desert cactuses require a drier atmosphere than most plants and they like -periods of complete drought, conditions most house plants are expected to endure when we go' on vacation. Many species will actually go all winter without watering, although they will shrivel slightly and look grayish in color. When they are watered in early spring they become dark green and in no tithe -produce, in the oddest places, buds that very quickly grow into luxurious flowers. No gardener can truthfully say he dislikes all cactuses for -there are so many diverse types that one is sure to please, If he dislikes those with spines he can get the sand dollar cactus (Astrophytum asterias) that has a flattened spineless body, an inch high and three inches wide, divided by ribs into pie like sections. This species produces jewel-like yellow flowers an inch long. The other extremes for those whofind beauty in spines are the • hedgehog cactuses (Echinocactus spp.) and the prickly pears (Opuntia . spp.). Enthusiasts will often rave about the velvety beauty of the gold plush prickly, pear (Opuntia microdasys), which, at the slightest touch, will unload a quiver of microscopic spines into your hands. These will irritate for 'a long time until the last of the, spines gradually works out of your skin.., Among the small cactuses most suitable for growing in 'the home are the peanut cactus (Chamaecereus. silvestris) that forms clumps, made from a number df -peanut -like joints, the toubYe because y why not t thrive under th Since in uses have l Valley, --i g and at ti p lar and �A.(FLBU KI -EY If you > having browing window plants out hou e is too dry, plants that lil is condition? wintertime so many hou less humidity than Death California, you should consider growing plants that are at home n-thtsvery tegion:''hese plants are extremely fascinatin nes produce very popular old -man cactus (Cephalocereus senilis), cylindrical type `covered . with shaggy white hairs, and its counterpart the old -lady cactus (Mammillaria hahniana) that produces a globular stem, which too, is covered with snow white hairs when it is a few years old. 4r r�• %3. Others are ,..the powder puff cactus (Mammillaria bocasana), which forms globes one and a half inches across with slender green tubercules set on a pink body and topped with tufts of silky hairs, and the bird's nest cactus (Mammillaria campotricha), which has a shape rather like a bird's nest. There are many more, some noted for their shapes and some for their stupendous floweis; Such ' as- the night -blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus) that produces in, summer large 14 -inch white flowers with 'golden sepals that emit a scent strong enough to attract (as it does in the desert) large winged night -flying moths for its fertilization. Growing these desert plants takes Y so little effort and attention that 'amateurs usually kill them with too much pampering. Through thousands of years the true cactuses have gradually become accustomed to. long periods of drought and they are able to store sufficient moisture in their tissue for use id dry periods. Unless they are allowed to use some of this stored up moisture they will eventually decay. The barrel types and prickly -pear types must not be watered too often. Preferably, allow them to remain dry from December to March and remove them to a cooler place in the home, such as near a Librarian to leave. post. Miss Carolyn Croke, who has been librarian for the Huron County- Public ' Library, ' will • become head of the humanities department in the main branch of the London Public Library. She will assume her duties Dec. 8. She will replace Mrs. Arlene Riches, who resigned Sept. 15. The department has 'nine staff members. It contains 50,000' bgoks, 180 periodicals, a picture collection, a local history collection, newspaper clippiifgs and government documents. Miss Croke is a 1957 graduate of the University of Western Ontario. She attended Rutgers University library . school. She held positions with the "Enoch Pratt Library in. Baltimore and the North' York Public Library in Metro Toronto, then became chief librarian at Pointe Claire, Que., before coming to Huron County. • - She wasp''f1tirtYi ounty's first GODERICH'S OWN .. 'WELCOME SERVICE would like to Call on you with Ohticfsewarr big gifts"nd Inforrhation' about your hew totatlon,: The Hostess will be glad to arrange your aubSEcrlption to 'the SIONAL STAR ,.., her at 04.9525 county "librarian and came Goderich in 1968. basement window. When you begin to water again soak the plants,thoroughly and, then wait until they are dry before the next watering. At this time they will gradually change their gray -green appearance to dark green and start to produce buds. This period when strong signs of growth appear .is -a good time to re -pot plants. Re -potting should be dame every two years. to ensure good growth. Plants left too long in the same soil tend to go into a period of dormancy that might- iest ightlast for seyeral___years, causing them, not to die, but to shrivel in size. and .become too weak to flower. It is not necessary to re -pot into "a larger size pot unless the plant is young and the pots are very small. A good soil mixture for desert cactuses - is four parts of good garden soil, a little on the heavy side, one part leaf mold, one-half part sand, one-half part crushed limestone and one-half part crushed brick. In June the cactuses may be planted outside on the patio where they can be kept watered, or they may be plunged in a .specially prepared place in the garden. They can be placed so as to form a rock garden with a few well-placed rocks ror can be . part of the garden itself. Irk any event, the soil where the 'plants are to be placed should be dug out to a depth of the largest pot and two inches of sand placed at the bottom. Then fill the excavation up with sand or sandy soil and plunge thepots to the rim of this or ,stand them on the base and fill in around them with sand. For about a week after they o are planted outside they will need shading during the hottest part of the day. A sunny position in the garden' is absolutely necessary. - — — — ■ m EN am I• I r it !v WITH THIS COUPON ONLY jF 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 20% OFF DRESSER SETS 1.1,E.= ECE 2.50 � 13.951 iRIECK to1L 1 1 1 MIN lloIIIIIIIMI nil NMI um l•Nsuos Al ANNIVERSARY SALE SHOP AND SAVE on QUALITY PRODUCTS from now till CHRISTMAS SAVE $49" SAVE `10°° SAVE .1O°° SAVE E100°° SAVE t15°° SAVE 10% Eureka, model i035A vacuum cleaner; 3 only, reduced to $100.00 each. Philips switchblade carving knife; 7 only, reduced to $24.95 each. Channel Master table/portable radio; 5 only, 'reduced"to $29.95 each. Electrohome "Tampico" stereo hi-fi; 1 only, reduced to $400.00. 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