256 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [ November, 



the plants are turned round or removed from place to place. To render this 

 impossible, a stout bar of iron (previously dressed with Stockholm tar, to prevent 

 corrosion) should pass up through the bottom of all the pots. This will ensure 

 stability, by binding firmly into one, the entire structure from base to summit. 



Epiphyllums are also peculiarly adapted for the furnishing of brackets and 

 baskets, and for the filling of pockets for the illumination of dead walls. 

 Occasionally, too, they form very pretty dwarf plants, in 6 -in. or 8 -in. pots, 

 resembling at times tiny parasols, with running streams of the loveliest inflores- 

 cence flowing off from each pendent extremity. 



Nevertheless, grafted plants are the most popular. This operation raises 

 them at once to a higher level, from which, as a vantage-ground, they can the 

 better unveil their peculiar beauty. The character of their growth and the 

 structure of their flowers alike invite for them an artificial elevation. The ease 

 with which they will take on almost any stock has also favoured the practice of 

 grafting, while it probably may have prevented us discovering the best possible 

 stock. I believe they will grow on any Cactus, but I have chiefly used only two 

 stocks. I hope Mir. Buckley will supplement his valuable paper in last year's 

 Florist (p. 13) by giving the results of his more extended experience on this 

 very important point. 



The Cereus speciosissimus, while one of our grandest Cactuses in itself, 

 seems formed by nature for a support to all the weak members of its glorious 

 family. It is distinguished by three of the most vital characteristics of a good 

 stock. It is strong, it grows freely, and it is long-lived. It seems made to 

 carry a burden. It will support almost any weight of Epiphyllum at any desired 

 height with evident ease and conscious dignity. And then it grows with the 

 freedom of a weed, and the vigour of a giant ; and who ever heard of its dying ? 

 It can scarcely be destroyed, unless by frost ; and it will endure a temperature as 

 low as 40° Fahr. with impunity, which is 5° lower than the Epiphyllum likes to 

 be subjected to. The strength of this noble Cereus enables it to scorn the help of 

 artificial props. Worked on the top of this Cereus, the Epiphyllums form 

 beautiful standard or umbrella plants ; inserted all the way up the stems, they 

 can be made into nice, narrow pyramids. There is one objection to this stock, 

 more theoretical, however, than practical. Its natural period of blooming is four 

 or six months later than that of the Epiphyllum. Still it never seems unwilling 

 to be forced into growth at the demand of the scion, nor, as far as I have 

 observed, has it ever refused to supply food to meet the wants of its adopted 

 children. 



Still, for my large plants I prefer a different stock, which lacks all the robust- 

 ness and the strength of this grand Cereus. This is the Pereskia or Peirescia 

 aculeata. It roots and grows freely, and unless for stocks, is of no use whatever. 

 The Epiphyllum takes readily upon it, although not so freely as on the Cereus. 

 The Pereskia has but little strength in itself ; its merit lies in its pliability ; it can 



