viz., P. aculeata and P. Bleo, the former being much the more popular of
the two; whilst P. Bleo, on account of the stoutness of its stems, is
employed for only the most robust kinds of grafts.

Propagation.--Both the above-named species may be propagated to any
extent, as every bit of branch with a leaf and eye attached is capable
of rooting and soon forming a stock. The practice among those who use
Pereskias as stocks for Epiphyllums is as follows: Cuttings of P.
aculeata are planted in sandy soil, in boxes, and placed on a shelf in a
stove till rooted. In about a month they are ready to be planted singly
in 3 in. pots, any light soil being used; and each plant is fastened to a
stake 1 ft. long. They are kept in a warm, moist house, all lateral
shoots being cut away, and the leader encouraged to grow as tall as
possible in the year. From December the plants are kept dry to induce
the wood to ripen, preparatory to their being used for grafting in
February. Stocks 9 in. or 1 ft. high are thus formed. If taller stocks are
required, the plants must be grown on till of the required length and
firmness. Large plants may be trained against a wall or along the
rafters in a warm house; and when of the required size, the branches may
be spurred back, and Epiphyllums, slender Cereuses, and similar plants,
grafted upon them. In this way very fine masses of the latter may be
obtained in much less time than if they were grown from small plants.

SPECIES.

P. aculeata (prickly); West Indian or Barbados Gooseberry.--Stem woody,
more or less erect, branching freely, and forming a dense bush about
6 ft. high. Young branches leafy; old ones brown, leafless, clothed with
large cushions of long, stout, brown spines, sometimes 2 in. in length.
Leaves alternate, with very short petioles, at the base of which is a
pair of short spines, and a small tuft of wool in the axil; blade 3 in.
long by 2 in. broad, soft, fleshy, shining green. Flowers
semi-transparent, white, in terminal panicles; sepals and petals 3/4 in.
long by 1/4 in. wide; stamens in a large, spreading cluster, white, with
yellow anthers. Ovary covered with small cushions of short bristles,
with sometimes a solitary spine in the centre of each cushion. Fruit
1 in. long, egg-shaped, red, edible. There is a large plant of this in
the Succulent House at Kew which flowers almost annually, but it has
never ripened fruits. In the West Indies it is a very common shrub,
whilst at the