178 
THE .DiCTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Cacti—continued. 
stems of most other plants, that no comparison can 
be made between them in respect of their root-developing 
power, the rooting of a Cactus cutting being as certain 
as the rooting of a bulb. The very soft, fleshy stems 
of some Cactuses, Hchinocactuses for example, should 
be exposed to the air for a time, so that the eut at 
the base may dry before it is buried in the soil. If 
the base of a plant decays, all that is necessary is the 
removal of the decayed portion, exposure of the wound to 
the air for two or three days, and ‘then the planting of 
the cutting in a dry, sandy soil, and placing it in a warm 
moist honse till rooted. All cuttings of Cactuses may be 
treated in this way. If anything proves destructive to 
these cuttings, it is an excess of moisture in the soil. 
Grafting. The object of grafting is generally either to 
effect certain changes in the nature of the scion, by uniting 
it with a stock of a character different from its own, which 
usually results in the better production of flowers, fruit, 
&c., or to multiply those plants which are not readily 
increased by the more ordinary methods of cuttings or 
seeds. In the case of Cactuses, however, we resort to 
grafting, not because of any difficulty in obtaining the 
kinds thus treated from either cuttings or seeds, as we 
have already seen that all the species of Cactuses grow 
freely from seed, or are easily raised from cuttings of their 
stems, nor yet to effect any change in the characters of the 
plants thus treated, but because some of the more delicate 
kinds, and especially the smaller ones, are apt to rot at 
the base during the damp, foggy weather of our winters ; 
and, to prevent this, it is found a good and safe plan to 
graft them on to stocks formed of more robust kinds, or 
even on to plants of other genera, such as Cereus or 
Echinocactus. By this means, the delicate plants are 
raised above the soil whence the injury in winter usually 
arises, and they are also kept well supplied with food by 
the more robust and active nature of the roots of the 
plant upon which they are grafted. 
Grafting is also adopted for some of the Cactuses to add 
to the grotesqueness of their appearance; a spherical 
Echinocactus or Mamillaria being united to a columnar 
stem of another kind, so as to produce the appearance of 
a drum-stick; or a large round-growing species may be 
grafted on to three such stems, which may then be likened 
to a globe supported upon three columns. As the species 
and genera unite freely with each other, it is possible 
to produce, by means of grafting, some very extra- 
ordinary-looking plants, and to a lover of the incon- 
gruous and “ queer,’ these plants will afford much 
interest and amusement. Besides the above, Epiphyllums, 
and the long drooping Cereuses—such as OC. flagelliformis 
—are grafted because of their pendent habit; they are 
therefore seen to better advantage when growing from 
the tall erect stem of some stouter kind, than if allowed to 
grow on their own roots. By growing on a Pereskia into a 
large plant, and then cutting it into any shape desired, we 
may, by grafting upon its spurs or branches a number of 
pieces of Epiphyllum, obtain large flowering specimens of 
various shapes in a comparatively short time. For general 
purposes, it is usual to graft Epiphyllums on to stems, 
about lft. high, of Pereskia aculeata, pretty little 
standard plants being in this way formed in about a year 
from the time of grafting. As an instance of how 
easily some kinds may be grafted, we may note what was 
done with a large head of the Rat’s-tail Cactus which had 
been grown for some years on the stem of Cereus rostratus, 
but which rotted off just below the point of union. 
On re-grafting this head on to the Cereus a little lower 
down, it failed to unite, and, attributing the failure to 
possible ill-health in the stock, it was determined to transfer 
the Rat’s-tail Cactus to a large stem of Pereskia aculeata, 
the result being a quick union and rapid, healthy growth 
since. Upon the same stock some grafts of Epiphyllum 
had previously been worked. In Fig. 191 we have a fine 
Cacti—continued. 
example of this kind of grafting. It represents a stem of 
Pereskia Bleo upon which the Rat’s-tail Cactus and an 
Epiphyllum have been grafted. 
For most plants the operation of grafting must be 
carefully and skilfully performed, but in the case of 
Cactuses very little skill is necessary if one or two rules, 
which apply to all kinds of grafting, are observed. The 
period of vigorous growth, and while the sap of both the 
stock and the scion is in motion, is the most favourable 
time for the operation. It is then only necessary, in order 
0 
Fe 
Fic. 191. PERESKIA BLEO, with EPIPHYLLUM and CEREUS 
FLAGELLIFORMIS grafted upon it. 
to bring about a speedy union, that the parts grafted 
should be cut so as to fit each other properly, and then 
bound or in some way fastened together so that they will 
remain in close contact with each other till a union is 
effected. A close atmosphere and, if possible, a little shade, - 
should be afforded the worked plants till the grafts have 
taken. The ligature used should not be bound round the 
graft too tightly, or it will prevent the flow of the sap; if 
bound tightly enough to hold the parts together, and to 
prevent their slipping, that will be found quite sufficient. 
