76 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



great as almost to prevent a person approaching it in a con- 

 fined room. 



The seed pod of the Cactus resemble in size and shape a 

 large red gooseberry when ripe, and is eatable ; the flavor 

 is between the strawberry and pine apple. The seed should 

 be rubbed out of the pod when dry and planted in sand, 

 and will soon make their appearance ; when of sufficient 

 size pot them, but withhold water from them for several 

 days. The soil for grown plants should be a coarse sandy 

 loam, and the plants should be well drained ; from August 

 to January will be a good time to repot ; during that time 

 they should have but little or no water, much will depend 

 on the situation of the room where kept The Cactus is 

 easily raised from cuttings taken off in the spring, but 

 should not be planted for several days, even then should 

 not be watered until the plant begins to grow. This suc- 

 culent plant is easily grafted by cutting a slit in one variety 

 and sticking a piece of another in the place, cut like a 

 wedge ; this should be done in the spring ; and there will 

 be no need of using grafting wax as the graft will grow 

 without difficulty, and bloom more freely than when on its 

 own bottom. There is a large variety of the prickly pear 

 the best to graft on, and it is frequently the case we see 

 four varieties grafted on the same stalk, and when in bloom 

 the contrast of colors give a pleasing appearance. 



