240 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
They are all tropical in their requirements, and prefer 
shade and moisture in the summer. They are propagated 
from cuttings or are grafted upon stems of Pereskia, any Be pe 
off rooting readily ; but from the first such cuttings begin to es stp 
and grow towards the earth. If the plants are desired for a a 8 
basket or similar arrangement, this drooping habit will ae a . 
but otherwise it will, perhaps, be thought better to adopt the F gel: 
grafting upon a stem of Pereskia specially grown as a nae - 7 
purpose. This ensures the plant starting at sufficient heig as ne 
soil to enable it to grow down and display its fine flowers. I re bee 
one graft can be effected upon the same stock, by inserting the a 2 2 
of Epiphyllum at different heights. The operation should be ene 
in spring, when the growing joints of Epiphyllum may be pulle a 
and inserted in an incision in the stock, the method of fixing ae : 
use one of the Pereskia spines as a peg, and drive it through stoc me 
graft. By this means the graft is retained until a junction of a ee 
become effected. The compost they prefer is a mixture of peat, oe 
and sand in equal parts. They must be allowed only sufficient water : 
prevent withering, and in February they should be started into eel: 
by giving more water and a higher temperature. They will a> 
their blossoms in a temperature lower than 60°; but this accomp “ , 
they may be moved to cooler quarters, where their flowers will probably 
last longer. 
iii of Epiphyllum truncatum is here represented ace 
one-third less than the natural size, the full dimensions 0 
ing more nearly shown in the section marked 1. 
Cultivation. 
the flower be 
INDIAN FIGS AND PRICKLY PEARS 
Natural Order Cacrem. Genus Opuntia 
OPUNTIA (classical name used by Pliny). A genus comprising gor 
one hundred anid fifty species of succulent trees and shrubs. When j 
the stems contain a woody core, or may become almost entirely woo¢ fe 
and in various Species they are somewhat cylindrical, globular, on 
flattened. Ina young state they have minute fleshy leaves beneath t 
downy tubercles from which the spi 
From the same point the yellow or or: t the 
usual in Cacti, there is no distinction between sepals and petals ; re ae 
flowers of Opuntia differ from those of the other genera we Ma 
