Domestic J^otices. 273 



guliiris. — I could never satisfiictorily grow the Epiphyllum truncatum 

 upon its osvn bottom, and therefore was induced to try what could be 

 effected by grafting. In the spring of 1830 I inserted a graft on Cactus tri- 

 angularis, about six inches from the pot; the result of this experiment has 

 been highly gratifying, and the plant is now fifteen inches in height, and 

 has pendulous branches falling in all directions to the bottom of the pot. 

 For four years successively the j)lant has flowered freely, increasing the 

 number of its flowers as it has increased in size. In November last it 

 produced one hundred and seven flowers, and was greatly admired by^ 

 all who saw it. The compost used was one half loam, the other half 

 equal proportions of peat and leaf mould, and the pot was well cracked 

 at the bottom .... I have a border eighteen inches wide round the 

 inside of the pit of a stove, filled with compost, in which I pur such 

 plant as I imagine will grow better in this situation than in })ots. In 

 this border a plant of Epiphyllum truncatum, grafted, also, on Cereus 

 triangularis, was planted about eight years ago; and it is now three feet 

 six inches high, four feet six inches in diameter, and would have been 

 much larger had it not not been pruned back occasionally, to prevent it 

 from hanging over the pathway. The plant is supported by a wood 

 frame, the formation of which is nearly that of a parasol; anil the pro- 

 fusion of flowers which it produces every spring is really astonishing. 

 Last spring it presented a complete cone of flowers, to the number of 

 above one" thousand. This plant having produced such a striking 

 effect, I have planted two of the E. truncatum in the same border, and 

 I hope to realize similar results. — (Correspondent of the Gard. Mag; 

 for March.) 



Art. III. Domestic Notices. 



Improving strong Clay soils. — Such of your readers as may be form- 

 ing new gardens, or wish to improve old ones, where the soil is a heavy 

 tenacious clay, will perhaps be gratified to learn that by the process of 

 burning, the clay may be rendered a very fertile and friable soil. This 

 process of fertilizing clay is not a new one, but the practice has of late 

 become so general in some parts of Europe, as no longer to be a matter 

 of noveltj^ or experiment, and the success which follows its adoption 

 has in many cases been truly wonderful, transforming a stiff un])roduc- 

 tive clay into a soil of great fertility, easily worked and totally changed 

 in its appearance. A common retnedy resorted to in the case of a su- 

 perabundance of clay was the addition of large quantities of sand; but 

 this is in many cases expensive, and in none so effectual in producing a 

 fine mellow soil. 



The modus operandi is as follows. A trench of the desirable length 

 is thrown out, about six or eight feet wide, and three feet deep. At the 

 bottom of this are placed layers of small brush, faggots, &c., and at 

 the top it is filled with old roots, larger wood, &c. The fire is then 

 lighted, and when ignition has commenced the whole is covered with 

 clay, except a few vent holes, for the admission of air. As the com- 

 bustion increases the whole mass becomes heated, and additions of fresh 

 clay are made to the heap, until it reaches the height of eight or nine 



VOL. III. NO. VII. 35 



