February  26,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
181 
other  species  of  Echinocacti  they  are  blood  red,  and  in 
others,  again,  pink,  purple,  white,  &c.  They  vary  in  length 
from  Tin,  in  the  case  of  Opuntia  formidabilis,  to  about  a 
sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  Mammillaria  micromeris.  The 
hooked  central  spines  of  Echinocactus  cornigerus  are  so 
strong  that  a  20lb  weight  may  be  lifted  by  one  of  them. 
Spines  serve  a  useful  purpose  in  protecting  the  flower  buds  ; 
also  in  protecting  the  whole  plant  against  the  depredations 
of  wild  animals.  They  also  act  as  an  aid  to  distribution  of 
the  species  ;  especially  the  hooked  ones,  which  cling  to  the 
fur  of  animals,  the  plant  is  thus  torn  up  by  the  roots,  and 
is  sometimes  carried  a  long  distance  before  it  is  dropped  to 
the  ground  ;  when  this  takes  place  it  soon  establishes  itself 
in  its  new  home  when  the  rains  come. 
The  seed  vessels  of  some  species  eclipse  the  flowers. 
Mammillaria  pusilla  bears  insignificant  flowers  when  looked 
at  individually,  but  they  are  followed  by  numbers  of  bright 
coral-red  berries,  which  last  for  months.  The  effect  of  these 
berries  nestling  in  the  dense  silver-grey  spines  is  very 
pretty.  This  little  plant  is  very  easy  to  grow,  and  should 
be  included  in  every  collection. 
(To  be  continued.) 
Methods  of  Propagation, 
(Continued  from  page  5.9.) 
Grafting. 
The  operation  consists  in  placing  two  cut  surfaces  of  different 
plants  under  conditions  which  cause  them  to  unite  and  grow 
together.  The  part  in  which  the  graft  is  inserted  is  termed  the 
stock,  and  the  part  inserted  is  called  the  scion.  Thisi  is 
a  method  most  largely  practised,  usually  taking  place 
in  the  spring.  The  stock  must  be  somewhat  in  advance  of 
the  scion,  the  latter  may  be  retarded  by  keeping  them 
in  a  cooler  place.  It  is  the  custom  of  some  gardeners, 
in  the  case  of  fruit  tree  scions,  to  lay  them  in  the  soil, 
under  a  north  wall,  until  they  are  required  for  work¬ 
ing.  Moist,  calm  weather  is  most  suitable  for  this 
operation,  and  to  be  successful  must  bei  carefully  per¬ 
formed.  The  cuts  should  be  clean  and  evenly  made, 
the  parts  fitting  carefully  together,  the  scions  tied  in, 
and  covered  over  with  grafting  wax,  or  prepared  clay, 
to  exclude  air.  Drying  winds  will  sometimes  cause 
the  clay  to  crack,  this  may  be  prevented  by  keeping 
it  moist.  This  is  sometimes  done  by  tying  moss  over 
it,  and  damping  it  when  required.  A  most  important 
point  to  bear  in  mind  is  that  the  cambium  layer,  or 
inner  bark  of  the  stock,  and  also  of  the  scion,  must  be 
in  contact,  as  without  this  a  perfect  union  is  not 
effected. 
Grafting  is  a  most  important  method  of  propagation, 
and  also  a  very  interesting  one.  It  is  largely  prac¬ 
tised  among  fruit  trees,  such  as  Apples,  Pears,  Plums, 
and  Cherries.  Many  varieties  of  choicer  forest  trees, 
and  deciduous  and  evergreen  shrubs,  are  increased  by 
its  use.  Not  only  is  it  a  method  of  increasing  tho 
stock  of  trees  or  shrubs,  but  it  also  exerts  a  beneficial 
influence  in  various  ways.  The  stocks  usually  employed 
for  Apples  are  three — the  Crab  or  wild  Apple  of  our 
hedgerows  and  copses;  Free,  those  raised  from  pips  or 
seeds  obtained  from  the  crushed  fruit  used  in  cider¬ 
making,  and  the  Paradise.  The  English  Paradise  is 
genei'ally  employed;  for  very  small  growing  bushes, 
however,  the  French  Paradise  is  used.  The  Crab  and 
free  stocks  are  most  suitable  for  standard  trees  and 
lai’ge  open  bushes,  the  Paradise  being  mostly  em¬ 
ployed  for  pyramids  and  bushes.  Pear  stocks  arc  also 
raised  from  seeds,  either  of  the  wild  Pear  or  from  some 
cultivated  varietie.s.  Those  are  best  for  standards  or 
large  bushes.  For  dwarf  trees.  Pears  are  worked  on 
the  Quince.  The  stock  most  generally  used  for  graft¬ 
ing  the  Cherry  is  the  wild  Gean,  but  it  is  most  suitable 
for  the  stronger  growing  varieties.  Tho  Mahaleb 
stock,  being  dwarf-growing,  is  useful  for  dwarf  trees, 
and  for  Morello,  and  other  small-leaved,  varieties.  For 
Plum  stocks  the  varieties  best  suited  are  the  Damson, 
Mus.sel,  St.  Julien,  and  White  Pear.  The  Mussel  is 
generally  employed  for  standard  trees.  This  is  a  very 
interesting  method  of  propagation,  and  we  can  only 
touch  the  fringe  of  the  subject  in  these  notes.  It  is 
more  the  work  of  tho  expert,  especially  with  such  plants 
as  Azaleas,  Rhododendrons,  Clematis,  and  many  more  too 
numerous  to  mention,  than  that  of  the  gardener. 
Budding  « 
is  a  somewhat  similar  process  to  grafting,  but  every  bud 
may  be  utilised,  providing  it  is  a  good  one.  It  is  there- 
i  fore  a  specially  valuable  means  of  increasing  the  .stock 
[  of  scarce,  new,  or  rare  plants.  It  is  extensively  used 
I  for  propagating  Roses  and  fruit  trees,  e.specially  stone 
fruit.  Rare  varieties  of  ornamental  deciduous  trees  are  also 
propagated  in  this  way,  as  well  as  evergreen  shrubs,  such  as 
Rhododendrons  and  Hollies.  The  mo.st  .suitable  time  for  thus 
j  operation  is  from  June  tO'  the  end  of  Augnst.  Budding  may  be 
'  termed  a  popular  method  of  propagation,  as  it  is  practised  by 
[  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  people,  especially  in  connection  with 
[  Roses.  There  are  several  forms  of  budding,  but  the'  one  most 
generally  employed  is  Shield  or  T-budding. 
A  longitudinal  incision  is  made  in  the  bark  of  the  stock, 
another  across  the  top  of  this,  forming  the  letter  T.  The  bud, 
which  should  be  taken  from  medium  sized  wood,  should  be  plump 
and  well  formed.  It  must  be  cleanly  cut  out,  and  the  small 
piece  of  wood  it  contains  carefully  removed,  so  as  not  to  also 
bring  away  the  base  of  the  bud.  It  will  now  be  ready  for  in¬ 
sertion;  this  may  often  be  done  when  the  stocks  work  well,  by 
taking  hold  of  the  leafstalk  attached  to  the  bud  and  gently 
pushing  it  down  to  its  proper  position  in  the  stock.  Budding 
cotton,  or  other  suitable  material,  will  be  necessary  for  tying 
it  in  to-  exclude  air.  The  tics  mu.st  not  be  too  tight,  and  should 
be  examined  when  the  bud  commences  to  grow,  and  loosened 
as  occasion  may  require.  The  operation  should  be  carried  out 
as  expeditiously  as  possible.  Dog  Roses  and  the  Manetti  stocks 
are  commonly  used,  the  latter  being  easily  increased  by  cuttings. 
The  Dog  Rose  is  generally  raised  from  seed,  but  may  also  be 
increased  by  cuttings.— J.  S.  U. 
(To  bo  continued.) 
Mexican  Cacti  at  home. 
