77 
the tree continues to flower four or five months, making a very 
grand appearance, and repaying by its beauty for every care a 
gardener can bestow. The knife should never be used about 
these trees in winter, except to remove decayed branches, &c. 
They are easily propagated by layers or cuttings. To accom- 
plish the first, in March, select some of the young branches for 
the purpose, give a little slit at a bud underneath, or they will ea- 
sily strike root without slitting, and I consider that method to 
be the safest ; lay them in the usual way, water them occasion- 
ally during the summer, and by the following autumn they will 
be well rooted so that they may be taken off" and removed to 
any warm situation, to gain strength, before they are planted 
where they are to remain. If cuttings are required, in June, 
take some young tops of branches, select a warm place in the 
garden, place them under a hand-glass, shade them in hot w ea- 
ther, and by autumn they will have taken root.’’ 
121 Culture of Cacte.^:. In the extensive family of Cactese 
are some of the most showy plants which we possess, either for 
the greenhouse or for decorating a room. Amongst them we 
may [larticularly mention Cereus speciosissimus, speciosus, trun- 
catus, Ackermanni, Jenkensonni, hybrida, all of which are of 
the easiest management, whether cultivated in the greenhouse, 
or in sitting rooms. The soil in which it was formerly consi- 
dered requisite to ])ot these splendid plants, was that which was 
poor, and mixed with old lime rubbish. It has, however, of late 
been dicovered that rich soil, mixed with manure, is preferable. 
How far the same compost would suit other succulent plants 
has yet to be ascertained by experience. From IMarch to No- 
vember the various species of Cereus ought to have a plentiful 
supply of water; and occasionally they should likewise be sup- 
])lied with liquid manure. During the winter months it is de- 
sirable that they be kept both cool and dry, a treatment that will 
induce a most abundant produce of flower buds, which will 
soon burst forth after they begin to receive a plentiful supply of 
water in March. They are readily increased by cuttings, and 
by grafting upon each other, a method which admits of many 
species being grown upon the same plant. The best stock on 
which the Cereus truncatus can be grafted is the Pereskia acu- 
leata, upon which it grows more rapidly than even from its own 
roots. When thus grafted upon a high stock, and trained care- 
139 .\UCTABICM. 121, D. Cameron. 
