For the spherical-stemmed kinds of Mamillaria, Cereus, Echinocactus,
&c., a different method is found to answer. Instead of cutting the base
of the graft to a wedge shape, it is simply cut across the base
horizontally, or, in other words, a portion of the bottom of the graft
is sliced off, and a stock procured which, when cut across the top, will
about fit the wound at the base of the scion; the two sliced parts are
placed together, and secured either by passing a piece of matting a few
times over the top of the graft and under the pot containing the stock,
or by placing three stakes around it in such a way that, when tied
together at the top, they will hold the graft firmly in position.
Another method is that of cutting the base of the scion in the form of a
round wedge, and then scooping a hole out in the centre of the stock
large enough to fit this wedge; the scion is pressed into this, and then
secured in the manner above mentioned. To graft one spherical-stemmed
kind on to three columnar-stemmed ones, the latter must first be
established in one pot and, when ready for grafting, cut at the top into
rounded wedges, three holes to correspond being cut into the scion. When
fixed, the top should be securely fastened by tying it to the pot, or by
means of stakes. For this last operation, a little patience and care are
necessary to make the stocks and scions fit properly; but if the rules
that apply to grafting are properly followed, there will be little fear
of the operation failing. In the accompanying illustrations, we have a
small Mamillaria stem grafted on to the apex of the tall
quadrangular-stemmed, night-flowering Cereus (Fig. 7), and also a
cylindrical-stemmed Opuntia worked on a branch of the flat,
battledore-like Indian Fig (Fig. 8.)


[Illustration: FIG. 7.--GRAFT OF MAMILLARIA RECURVA ON CEREUS