Cactus Culture for Amateurs Being Descriptions of the Various Cactuses Grown in This Country, With Full and Practical Instructions for Their Successful Cultivation

"Cactus Culture for Amateurs" by William Watson is a helpful book for people who want to grow cacti, written back in the late 1800s. It’s like a how-to guide for beginners, explaining different types of cacti that were grown in England at the time and giving easy-to-follow steps to take care of them. The author wanted more people to like cacti, because they were kind of forgotten in English gardens even though they’re pretty and interesting. At the beginning, the book talks about how cacti used to be really popular, but then not so much. Watson points out how cool cacti look, especially their awesome flowers and weird shapes, and tries to show that they're actually beautiful. These starting chapters give you a sneak peek into the science and importance of these plants, and let you know that the author really knows his stuff from working at the Royal Botanic Gardens. This book is a must-have for anyone who wants to grow cacti, showing that it can be tough but also really rewarding.