23 
ON GRAFTING CACT^. 
Although great success has already resulted from, and great progress lias been 
made in, the practice of grafting various species of Cactce on others of stronger and 
more succulent habits, as well as on stocks of Pereskia aculeata^ there can be little 
doubt that much yet remains to be done, and many experiments yet remain to be 
tried in this interesting subject. Every person who is at all conversant with 
Floriculture, or who is accustomed to visit the gardens of noblemen, gentlemen, 
or nurserymen, in the spring season of the year, must have been struck with the 
peculiarly curious and beautiful appearance of many species of Cactm which have 
been ingrafted into other sorts of opposite characters ; and, by the judicious 
management of the cultivator in placing weak and slow-growing sorts in those of 
stronger habits and more rapid growth, the great superiority and extraordinary 
beauty of the flowers produced cannot fail to have been noticed and admired. 
But, we presume, few persons have yet practised the system we are about to 
detail, or have yet made the experiment of grafting the different species of 
Echinocactus^ Mammillaria^ &c., on stocks of Pereskia aculeata. This has, how- 
ever, been effected by Mr. Knight, Chelsea, and the plants so treated have grown 
in the most luxuriant manner, and have a very novel and highly interesting 
appearance. To all persons acquainted with the habits of the various species 
of Eckinocactzis, Mammillaria, and other cactaceous genera which do not produce flat 
or angular-leaf-like stems, but form themselves into spherical heads, it is a well- 
known fact that they produce their roots so scantily, as, in many instances, to be 
almost entirely destitute of them ; and, consequently, the plants make little pro- 
gress in their growth, and seldom attain to any considerable size ; but, treated 
according to the system we have just alluded to, the strong and vigorous roots of 
the Pereskia supply them most abundantly with nutritive matter, and accelerate 
their growth in a most surprising manner. The mode of practising it is very 
simple. Having prepared a quantity of stocks of Pereskia aculeata, which have been 
previously divested of all their branches, and have attained the height of eighteen 
inches or two feet, cut the extremity of the stem nearly to a point, and then take 
species of Mammillaria, or others of a similar nature, and cutting off all the roots, 
make a small hole in the centre of the base of the plant, and simply insert the 
stem of the Pereskia thus prepared into it, taking care to shade it from the 
influence of the sun, and keep it in a moist heat. In this manner the species used 
for the graft, and the plant which is grafted upon, will soon become firmly united, 
and grow and flourish in the most vigorous manner. But, as we have not now 
space sufficient to enter more minutely into the details of this interesting subject, 
we shall embrace a future opportunity of laying before our readers some further 
information respecting it, feeling assured that any particulars relative to the cultiva- 
tion of this curious, extensive, and much-admired tribe, will always prove acceptable. 
