CACTI 



ditions the cut surface will be the first to dry, and consequently a 

 perfect union will be prevented. 



With small globose or thick plants, such as Mammillaria (pi. 3, A, 

 B, C, and D), Echinocactus, and Echinocereus, a different method is 

 preferable. The head of the plant is cut away with a perfectly 

 smooth transverse cut (pi. 2, C). A stock is selected which has 

 about the same diameter as the scion, and it is also given a smooth 

 transverse cut. The two flat surfaces are then pressed firmly 

 together and held in place by tying them together with a cotton or 

 other soft cord. It is essential that clean instruments be used to 

 prevent the inoculation of the plant with germs of decay. A number 

 of the upright-growing species of Cereus have been successfully used 

 for stocks, and there seems to be no limit to the number of species 

 that may be used. It has been found, however, that some are better 

 than others for the purpose. When it is desired to have the scion 

 a foot or more high, good stocks may be obtained from Lemaireo>- 

 cereus (Cereus) stellatus, Nyctocereus (Cereus) serpentinus, and 

 other species of similar habits of growth. (PI. 4, A, B, and C.) 

 These stocks are preferable for use in grafting Aporocactus (Cereus) 

 -flageUiformis and species of Epiphyllum (pi. 5, D) and Rhipsalis, 

 which normally grow in a pendent position. Where only short 

 stocks are desired, the above may be used, and also Selenicereus 

 pteranthus (Cereus nycticallus) , Harrisia (Cereus) tortuosa, H. (C.) 

 bonplamdi, Selenicereus (Cereus) macdonaldiae, and S. (C.) grcmdi- 

 fiorus. These latter plants are weak stemmed when allowed to grow 

 tall; hence, they can not be used for high grafts unless supported 

 by a stake of some kind. All these species are readily grown from 

 cuttings, which should be somewhat longer than the stock is to be. 

 When the cutting is thoroughly rooted it should be potted and kept 

 in good growing condition until a new root system has formed. It 

 will then be readv to receive the scion after having; been cut back 



to the desired height. 



CULTURE 



Cacti are native from southern Canada to far down in South 

 America. Between these extreme points there is scarcely any com- 

 bination of atmospheric and soil conditions that does not support 

 one or more species of the family. They are found near the seashore 

 in the Tropics, as well as high up on the mountains where in winter 

 they are subjected to very cold weather. They are most abundant, 

 however, in the high, semiarid table-lands. With these facts in 

 mind, it is clear that when collected they can not all be treated alike, 

 but must be grouped according to the conditions under which the 

 individuals grow in their native haunts, and each group must receive 

 a different treatment to accord therewith. 



Epiphyllum, Hhipsalis, a few species of Phyllocactus, and some 

 species of Cereus and related genera are epiphytic in their tropical 

 homes and should be given like treatment in conservatories. They 

 should be grown under practically the same warm, moist atmospheric 

 conditions as are tropical orchids, which may be grown in baskets 

 of peat and moss, or be trained on blocks or stumps, or on walls, 

 wherever the roots have opportunity to penetrate a moisture-laden 

 medium. Most species of Phyllocactus and the climbing species of 



