The Cacteæ have not hitherto obtained in this country that attention
which is paid to them on the continent, where certainly a greater number
of fine specimens are to be found of this interesting genus than is to
be seen in our collections.
Mr. Hitchen of Norwich devoted much attention to their cultivation, and
certainly had formed the best collection at that time in England. Being
under the necessity of breaking up his establishment, he disposed of his
Cacteæ and other succulent plants to Mr. Mackie, Nurseryman, of Norwich,
from whom the Duke of Bedford purchased a considerable number in the
spring of 1834. Since that period His Grace's collection has been
increased by the liberality of several continental collectors during my
tour; and I feel it but justice more particularly to mention M. Otto, of
Berlin, who contributed many valuable species, and M. Lehmann, of
Dresden, from whom I have also received about two hundred. M. Seitz of
Munich, M. Bosch of Stuttgard, Mr. Booth, of Flottbeck Nursery,
Hamburgh, and Professor Lehmann, as well as the Curators of the
Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin College Botanic Gardens, have added
greatly to the collection; and with some recent acquisitions from Mr.
Tweedie, of Buenos Ayres, obtained through the intervention of Lord
Edward Russell, have now rendered this collection superior to any one
existing in this country, and little inferior to any on the continent.
The cultivation of the Cacteæ possesses considerable advantage over most
of the hothouse plants, requiring little room, a matter in general of
considerable importance where space is necessarily limited. They will
also flourish and flower in a lower temperature than most other hothouse
plants: most of the species will not require to be kept in a higher
degree of heat than from 45° to 50°; some of the South American species,
however, succeed best in a higher temperature. They should be kept
rather in a dry state, and water used but sparingly, as these plants are
very impatient of wet. The houses most suitable for the cultivation of
this singular tribe should be so glazed as to effectually exclude the
intrusion of water. In the extensive range of plant-houses now erecting
at Woburn Abbey, one is intended to be exclusively devoted to the
cultivation of Cacteæ. The soil most suitable for their growth is a
mixture of sandy-peat, leaf-mould and lime rubbish, well incorporated
together.
The annexed List enumerates the different species now in cultivation at
Woburn Abbey.