ON INCREASING PLANTS OF THE CACTUS TRIBE. 105 



Red Rover. — Is a red ground, of good shape, and different in 

 character from any other that I am acquainted with. It is not so 

 constant in its lacing as the preceding sorts, but a desirable variety to 

 cultivate. 



ARTICLE V. 



ON INCREASING PLANTS OF THE CACTUS TRIBE. 



BY AN AliDKNT AMATEUR GROWER, OK STOCKWELI-, NEAR LONDON. 



The art of propagating Cactese has made such rapid progress in 

 modern times, that sorts of which there had only been single speci- 

 mens in few collections for many years, are now propagated, and will 

 soon be obtainable by amateurs ; but, as the best modes of increase 

 are not generally known, I transmit the following particulars for in- 

 sertion in the Floricultural Cabinet, to extend the knowledge to 

 all admirers of this interesting tribe. The Melocactuses only cannot 

 be subjected to the common rule, and are almost always propagated 

 by seed, whereby it sometimes happens that degenerations take place. 

 All other Cactese may be cut in two, at the proper season, without 

 danger ; and, when potted with care, it is generally the case that the 

 cut-off piece forms a better specimen than the mutilated one was. 

 Mammillarias and Echinocactuses, scarcely the size of a walnut, are 

 fit for making cuttings, and grow with more ease and certainty at this 

 time. In the same way, even the oldest plants succeed; for example, 

 Cereuses, with an axis of wood from one to two inches in diameter; 

 in short, it is a generally practicable proceeding, and yet requires 

 some care. Echinocactuses and Cereuses shoot out generally from 

 the knots, where the spines are; Mammillarias, on the contrary, 

 shoot from between the teats, sometimes out of the teats themselves. 

 These shoots may be taken off very soon ; and, the smaller they are, 

 the sooner they will be found to root. The same way of propagating 

 may be adopted for Lepismiums, Rhipsalises, and Pereskias. Epi- 

 phyllums, Hariolas, and Opuntias are easily propagated by separating 

 and taking off' one or two articulations in the joints. 



Each part of a Cactus intended to form a new plant, whether it be 

 a cut-off head or a taken-off shoot, must, according to the different 

 Btateof the weather, lie from one to eight days exposed, if possible, to 

 the sun, to dry the cut completely. I never found it necessary to 



