72 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



large enough to handle, prick them off in a "bed of sandy soil in a sunny 

 position near the glass. Cuttings should be allowed to dry for several 

 days before insertion in sandy soil. Very little water must be given 

 until they are rooted. Cuttings from an inch long to several feet may 

 be used. Grafting is resorted to in a few instances only, and will be 

 mentioned later. 



Insect pests are best kept under by means of fumigating, and by the 

 use of insecticides. A useful insecticide is made by mixing a quarter of 

 a pint of paraffin in four gallons of strong soft soap water. Mealy bug 

 and thrips are the two worst insects. 



Cacti that have been injured during importation, or from other 

 causes, and are beginning to rot should have all decayed matter cut away, 

 and be painted with carbolic acid or Condy's fluid several times, and 

 left in a sunny position until thoroughly dry. Afterwards an occasional 

 dusting with charcoal will keep them right. 



Turning to the 



Selection of Suitable Plants, the most worthy are found in the 

 following genera : Cereus, Echinocactus, Epiphyllum, Mamillaria, 

 Melocactus, Opuntia, Pereskia, Phyllocactus, and Rhipsalis. With few 

 exceptions they are confined to South America and the West Indies, the 

 headquarters being California, Mexico, and Texas. Of 



Cereus alone in which the three genera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, 

 and Pilocereus, have been merged nearly two hundred species are in 

 cultivation. The different species vary greatly in habit, some being but 

 a few inches high, and forming dense tufts of spiny growths, others, 

 as in the case of the Giant Cactus of California, making tall, massive, 

 sometimes single, sometimes branched, columnar stems several tons in 

 weight. Another section well represented by the Old Man Cactus 

 (Cereus senilis) makes tall stems, terminated with a large mass of long 

 white hairs ; while yet another is well marked by having long, thin, 

 climbing, or scandent stems. In some instances the stems are nearly 

 round, and slightly angled; in others they are very deeply ribbed or 

 angled, and in most cases they are very spiny. The flowers are borne 

 from the sides of the stems in summer, and in many cases are very 

 showy. Particularly is this the case with a number of climbing species 

 which are known as "night-flowering Cacti." Of the many species the 

 following are all worth growing : 



Climbing, or scandent kinds, which usually flower in the night, 

 suitable for training on a roof : O. grandiftorus, Lemairii, Macdon- 

 aldix, Napeoleonis, rostratus, and triangularis. All these produce 

 flowers from ten to thirteen inches across, ranging in colour from yellow 

 and white in the two last named to the same colours tinged with red 

 in the others. In addition, the Eat's-tail Cactus (G. flagelliformis), 

 which flowers in the day-time, makes long, thin stems, which produce 

 pretty, small pink flowers freely ; it is an excellent basket plant. Of 

 tall, strong growing species : C. giganteus, glaucescens, Jamacarii, and 

 Peruvianus are useful ; the former, and the two latter, have white flowers 

 which open during the day. In addition, G. senilis is remarkable for 

 its long white hair ; although usually seen a foot or so high, it will grow 

 to a height of ten feet or more. 



