338 Some account of the Echinocactus Eyriesii. 



I consider, injures the fibre, and makes the plant appear un- 

 sightly." 



A new way of growing the plants is mentioned by Mr. Pax- 

 ton, in the Magazine of Botany, as practised by him at Chats- 

 worth. " The plants were turned out of their pots, and all the 

 loose earth removed from them; a small quantity of turfy peat 

 was placed round each root, the whole covered with moss, about 

 two inches thick, and then neatly tied up with small tarred twine. 

 The plants were then suspended, in an inverted position, from 

 the rafters of a plant stove, and they were syringed twice a day 

 through the growing season: they grew admirably; in three 

 months the roots had protruded through the moss so much as to 

 require a second coat of moss. This experiment was commenced 

 in February, and in the course of the season the whole of the 

 plants, with the exception of the pereskias, produced bloom, 



some of them two or three times Epiphyllum truncatum, 



thus treated, is a most beautiful object, and may be had in flower 

 throughout the season." The following species were subjected 

 to the experiment: — Epiphyllum speciosum, truncatum, Acker- 

 mani, and splendidum; Cereus speciosissimus and flagelliformis; 

 several rhipsalises and pereskias. The temperature of the house, 

 when the plants are in a growing state, is kept from 55° to 65°; 

 but when the young shoots are matured they are removed to a 

 lower temperature, from 40° to 50°, where they are allowed to 

 stand until they are wanted to flower, when they are taken back 

 to their former habitation. 



We should be glad to see this experiment tried by some of 

 our amateurs; the plants would have a unique appearance when 

 in full bloom — and, suspended from the rafters, would resemble 

 epiphytes, which are now so fashionable among the amateurs and 

 nobility of England. 



The propagation of the different species is simple and easy: 

 a cutting taken off at almost any season of the year, and laid by 

 a week or two, to heal up the wound, and then potted, will gene- 

 rally root and send up new shoots in the course of a few weeks. 

 The cuttings should be put into the same soil as recommended 

 for the plants, and should be rather sparingly watered till they 

 begin to grow. Afterward they require the same treatment as 

 established plants. The Echinocactus produces offsets very 

 slowly; but if old plants are cut transversely, as practised by 

 the French gardener mentioned in the extract from M. Turpin's 

 paper, an abundance will be the result. 



All the smaller kinds may be grafted successfully on the strong- 

 er ones, as the Cereus triangularis and speciosissimus; the Epi- 

 phyllum truncatum grafted on the former is said to be an elegant 

 object when in bloom. We have given an account of some 

 plants managed in this way at p. 272-3. Mr. Wilder has a few 



