ATTRACTIVE CACTI. 



289 



Fig. 2358. 



Lace Cactus (a) and Rat Tail Cactus {b) 



Both grafted on Cereus Colubri:iu>. 



tings of cereus nycticalus, grandiflorus, or 

 colubrinus, and has some slow grower like 

 the epiphyllums, cristates, or the globular 

 sorts, can do as well at producing these 

 curiosities as an old hand at the business. 

 First, be sure that both the scion and stock 

 are in a good healthy, growing condition, 

 preferably in the spring. For instance, if 

 it is desired to use a stock of C. colubrinus, 

 and put a top on it of C. flagelliformis or 

 rat-tail cactus, select a stock about two feet 

 high, and take two nice pieces of new 

 growth of the rat-tail, about three inches 

 in length. Cut the top square off the stock 



a id split it down the centre about an inch. 

 Then, with a sharp knife cut the scions to a 

 wedge shape, and insert in the split top of 

 t le stock. To hold them in place you only 

 require to run a long cactus spine through 

 b )th stock and scion, and tie a string firmly 

 a-ound the stock to keep the cut edges to- 

 i^ether. For a few days set in a partially 

 sliady place, and do not wet the graft when 

 watering. Growth will very quickly com- 

 mence, and you will be surprised at how 

 fast a large head will form on the tall stock. 

 The illustration shows what can be done 

 with this combination in only two years. 

 The large head, which was in bloom at the 

 time the photo was taken, nearly all grew 

 in one season. 



The crab cactus is grafted in the same 

 way, but the best stock to use is the peres- 

 kia, which forces a fast growth, and is bet- 

 ter when old than a cereus stock. The 

 globular sorts can be put on in any way 

 that seems to suit best, either set flat on 

 top of the stock, care being taken to have 

 the cut edges about the same size, or by 

 wedging either the stock or scion, and in- 

 serting into the other, always fastening the 

 two together as firmly as possible with 

 spines, and by tying string around to hold 

 the edges together till they unite. 



The small specimen shown in the engrav- 

 ing is only one season's growth of echino- 

 cereus coespitosus or lace cactus on C. colu- 

 brinus. The scion, when put on, was only 

 about the size of a walnut, but grew so fast 

 it looked as though the skin must burst. 

 A specimen ot C. flagelliformis cristala or 

 opuntia tesselata cristata, makes a very odd 

 plant when grafted, and assumes all sorts 

 of fantastic forms in coxcomb stvle. 



