164 Epijjhyllmn RiisseUydnum. 



hardihood of constitution, but it grows best in a rich Hght soil, 

 and in rather a warm situation. We have thus given a brief 

 description of a plant which we think well calculated for bed- 

 ding out, or growing in masses, and of a color which we do 

 not possess, and is a very desirable one for growing in beds, a 

 mode which is becoming quite popular, and which produces 

 a iSne effect even with an ordinary flower. How beautiful, 

 therefore, must the Torenia asiatica be, grown in this way ! 

 Boston, March 20th, 1848. 



Art. VI [. Epiphyllum RusselUknum. By P. 



The thanks of those, who have heretofore failed in cultivat- 

 ing this beautiful species of Cactus, are due to your correspon- 

 dent, for his suggestions upon the subject. His name is such 

 good authority, that 1 hardly lil;e to give you the details of 

 my culture, — this year very successful by some lucky accident, 

 it may be. 



1 have observed that this cactus will absorb much more 

 water in twenty-four hours, than ^nj other variety that I have 

 cultivated : and the quantity necessary to its healthy growth 

 in the warm, dry atmosphere of a parlor, will oftentimes in- 

 jure the texture of the plant at the root. This is easily avoided 

 by engrafting upon the triangularis; and, at the same time, 

 much more vigorous growth will be obtained than upon its 

 own stem. My practice is, to graft all the tender varieties in 

 this way. 



In December, a fine plant produced one flower, sufficiently 

 beautiful to answer the description in your magazine : the re- 

 mainder of the buds soon after dropped. In January, a new 

 crop appeared : and, about the first of February, I began to 

 water with guano once a fortnight, and allowed the pan be- 

 neath the pot to contain water during most of the day. The 

 result has been, that the plant has been beautifully decked 

 with graceful and delicate blooms of the Russelha/mm, 

 and there are a number of well-developed beds which are evi- 

 dently going on in the same way. 



