248 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
large, round, greenisli Pear, seldom cracks in cold wet seasons, when some 
other russet kinds are cracked to their cores. Gansel’s Bergamot is one of 
these, though in good seasons there are none to equal it, whether of the 
old or new kinds. Besides, there is a peculiar flavour in Bergamot Pears, 
which is pleasing to most tastes. Even the old Dutch or Orange Bergamot, 
grown on a wall with east or west aspect, is superior in flavour to some of 
the large new kinds, which, in had seasons, are only like the Calebasse. 
Some of them are soft and insipid, others hard and corky, and never turn 
mellow or ripe, which is seldom the case with the smaller kinds, especially 
Bergamots. I may notice that Hacon’s Incomparable is a Bergamot, 
only a shade better than the old Orange one ; they are nearly alike in size 
of fruit, flavour, colour and texture of the leaves. 
I may have mentioned in these pages, that the difference of the quality of 
fruit depends more on the texture of the leaves than on the crude sap from 
the roots. The mysterious change of the juice is effected by the rays of the 
sun, during its passage through the leaves to nourish the fruit. Thus what 
is to some a mystery, is explained; and the reason becomes apparent why 
different kinds or varieties of fruit can be grown, by grafting, on the same 
tree. 
Cossey Park. J. Wighton. 
THE CULTIVATION OF TALL CACTI. 
The Tall Cacti are plants of very easy culture, but they scarcely appear 
to be general favourites. Yet no one can have seen the beautiful specimens 
that have from time to time been exhibited—those, for instance, shown by 
the late Mr. Green—without admiring them. Some persons are of opinion 
that the habit of many of the tribe is unsightly, and the blooming season 
of short duration ; but the same objection may be raised in the case of 
many of our most beautiful plants, and to meet difficulties of this nature 
it is merely necessary to call to our aid the practice and the intelligence of 
our most skilful manipulators, to teach us what to do and what to avoid. 
The propagation of tall-growing Cacti by means of cuttings is simple 
enough. It is of some importance that the cuttings should be prepared by 
the aid of a sharp knife, for if the wound is bruised the chances are that 
the cutting will decay. When taken off they should be potted into dry, 
gritty, open soil, or they should be partially dried by being laid by on a dry 
shelf for a week or ten days. I generally put three or four cuttings into 
two or three-inch pots, according to the size of the cuttings. The soil 
used for this purpose is composed of three-fourths of road grit, with the re¬ 
mainder mellow loam, charcoal, and lime rubbish, all tolerably fine. The 
cuttings being of a very succulent nature, they should not be placed in a 
humid atmosphere, but on a dry shelf in some warm and airy house, where 
they can be kept tolerably dry. Thus treated, they will be found to emit 
roots in a very short time, and may be potted singly into small pots, using 
plenty of drainage, such as charcoal or old mortar. As the plants grow 
they must be shifted into larger pots, using the soil somewhat coarser at 
each successive shift, and giving abundant drainage; this is essential, as 
the plants, although required to be liberally watered when growing and 
blooming, require that the water should percolate freely, and dry off quickly. 
One or two waterings during the flowering season with weak manure 
water will assist the blooming materially. During the dormant months of 
winter very few waterings will be necessary. 
