Grafting of Ipomceas. 161 



(Moscarelli), which, on account of their aromatic taste, are much valued, and 

 they are seldom found with fruit without seed. 



In the time of the old Mexican kingdom, the Nopal was a plant in great 

 estimation, and almost held sacred on account of the colour, so much used in 

 dying, called cochineal, and was the symbolical sign of the kingdom of 

 Mexico. A branch of the Nopal, on which an eagle sits, with a serpent of 

 coral in its bill, now forms the arms of the republic. (See the Review of 

 Bateman's OrchidacecB of Mexico, &c, in Vol. XIII. p. 509.) 



[In our next we shall probably give some farther translations on the subject 

 of Cacteae, at present so popular among the patrons and amateurs of garden- 

 ing in England.] 



Art. II. On grafting Ipomceas, and more particularly fyomce^a Hors- 

 Jalliss. By D. Beaton. 



I practise grafting ipomceas, in order to get plants with as little trouble as 

 possible of Ipomce v a Horsfall^, which does not strike roots so readily as some 

 others of this graceful family from cuttings, and laying is not always con- 

 venient in ornamental plant stoves. The process of grafting is quite simple, 

 and, to a person versed in the subject, it would be quite sufficient to say that 

 cuttings of I. Horsfallite were grafted on the spare tubers of I. insignis, or on 

 those of any other species in that section ; but to the amateur it may be 

 useful to state, that, when the shoots of I. Horsfall^ begin to grow in the 

 spring, and when the eye is just ready to push in a young shoot half an inch 

 long, is the best time for this operation. Then cut the scions with two eyes, 

 the upper one to form the leading shoot, and the lower one to help the union 

 with the tuber; cut the scion or shoot just below the joint, and cut out a 

 slice an inch long on the opposite side to the eye. Then take a young tuber, 

 and cut away a slice to correspond with your graft ; fit them close together, and 

 tie them tight with a piece of matting; pot the tuber in as small a pot as you 

 can get it into, using very light soil; set the pot into a hot frame, or merely 

 into the stove, and in a few days the union will be complete, and your plant 

 will go on just the same as if it were on its own roots from the first. A few 

 side tubers can easily be spared from an established plant for this purpose ; 

 but for the nurseryman, or where a great number of plants are wanting, the 

 following is the best and shortest way to go to work. At any time during 

 the growing season, take as many cuttings as you want plants, of I. insignis 

 or of the species of Ipomce v a which Mr. Low of Clapton introduced from the 

 higher parts of the Brazils, which is much hardier than the I. insignis, and in 

 all respects a better stock for I. Horsfalli^ than I. insignis. They will strike 

 roots in a fortnight ; and in a short time they will form young tubers, like 

 those of young dahlias; then shake them out of the pot, and graft them as 

 above. Or any practised person may take the young points of the current 

 season's growth and insert them in the bottom of the cutting, instead of in the 

 tuber, and they will take just as well; but when this plan is adopted the cut- 

 tings ought to be divested of their bottom eyes when first put in, otherwise 

 these eyes will be found troublesome in pushing up and contending with the 

 graft. — Kingzbwy, March 16. 1839. 



We earnestly recommend Mr. Beaton's very excellent article to the atten- 

 tion of every young gardener. Ipomce'a Horsfallice was first raised in England 

 in 1832, at Everton, near Liverpool, by Charles Horsfall, Esq., from seeds 

 received either from Africa or the East Indies ; and it was named by Sir W. 

 J. Hooker in compliment to Mrs. Horsfall, and figured in the Botanical 

 Magazine, t. 331.5. It was afterwards figured in the Botanist, No. 31., and in 

 the Floral Cabinet, vol. i. p. 61. It is one of the most splendid of climbinc 

 plants; and Mr. Beaton has shown how it may be multiplied by hundreds.— 

 Cond. 



