CACTUS. A tribe of fleshy plants, some of which are cultivated for their splendid flowers, and pleasant acid fruits, the whole family be ing curious in their habit of growth. There are several species of cactus, the principal in cultiva tion being Genus, Echinocactus, Mammillaria, and Opuntia. The well known Night-blooming Cereus, belongs to the first. The Hedge-hog cactuses to the second. The Prickly Pear be longs to the Opuntias. Epiphyllum, known as Crab cactus, is also a species containing many fine varieties. These are usually grafted on peres kia stocks, especially E. truncatum one of the finest of early winter bloomers and magnificent in every respect. The writer prefers Cereus Hexa onus, or Speciosigrim,us, one grafted at a height of two feet, then allowing buds of the Cereus to start, and again grafting when it has grown six or eight inches, makes a.very pretty combina tion,different varieties being used. Take a shoot of epiphyllum two inches long, pare off the outer skin or bark half an inch or less, at the base, and then cut that which is to be inserted in a wedge shape. Make an incision in the angles of the stock, or in the top, with a pointed stick of tlp shape of the graft, insert it, fasten it with a thin sliver of wood, cover with moss, place them in a rather warm, shady place, syringe over the top occasionally, and they should unite in two or three weeks. All the cactus tribe should be kept quite
dry during the season of rest. They should only be kept moderately moist at any time. They all root freely from cuttings, or sections of the plants, taken when they are in a growing condition, and it is better that they be allowed to dry for some days, after being cut off; especially if pretty succulent. The illustration, Fig. 1, page 169, shows the fruit of the Giant cactus, (Cereus gigan teus); Fig. 2, fruit of Prickly Pear, (Opuntia); Fig 3, shows one of the Hedge-hog cactus. Echinocactus Wisli2eni. There are many of the cactus tribe well adapted to window gardening, from their well known power of withstanding heat and drouth. At blooming-time, however, they' require heat and moisture, not continual watering, but a soaking at intervals to keep the soil moist, and if an occasional watering be given with liquid manure, so much the better.