28 STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



until the plants have made roots enough to demand water. On the old 

 stumps rosettes of leaves will form, which in time may be taken off and 

 potted. 



EICHORNEA— The Water hyacinth, Eichorneacrassipesmay be utilized 

 as amost attractive tub plant in the following manner: Put, say three 

 plants, in as many 5-inch pots of rich soil; fill a tub with water and sink 

 the pots just under the surface. Beyond wanting water to replace that lost 

 by evaporation they will take care of themselves; the surface will be- 

 come a thick mass of plants, with fresh flowers opening every morning. 

 Although this plant floats on water naturally, without the roots being 

 fixed in soil, it also flourishes in saturated ground at a surprising rate, 

 keeps a fresh, green appearance, and produces myriads of flowers; it is 

 well worth a trial for unsightly marshy spots. 



Eichornea azurea is an interesting relative of the above, with darker 

 colored flowers. It is useful for planting around the margins of ponds, 

 covering quite a large water surface during a Summer's growth. Both 

 species are easily kept over Winter by placing a few on the surface of a 

 warm tank. They increase very rapidly during early Spring. 



EPIPHYLLUMS— Epiphyllums are usually grown as standards; that 

 Is, grafted on the stems of other plants. This method is necessary, be- 

 cause the branches have a procumbent habit when the plants are on 

 their own roots. Rooted cuttings may be grown on and used in baskets 

 or other hanging receptacles. The species, three in number, and the 

 numerous varieties make very handsome Winter-flowering plants. Their 

 cultivation is simple. The stocks for grafting are usually Pereskia 

 aculeata and P. Bleo. The latter is the more robust grower, and there- 

 fore most suitable for tall specimens, P. aculeata being used for dwarf 

 ones. Cuttings of the Pereskias, which, of course, belong to the Cactus 

 tribe, may be rooted any time after the wood is fairly ripe. They may 

 be put in a dry and warm part of the propagating bed, and given water 

 only after they show signs of sending out roots. To graft, select stock 

 in which the wood is sufficiently firm; cut off the top part, make a cut 

 down the center for three-quarters of an inch or so, then insert a piece of 

 the ripened growth of the Epiphyllum, and run one of the Pereskia spines 

 through the whole to keep it firmly together, or tie with raffia until the 

 uni^n is completed. This will be effected in a few weeks in a good 

 growing temperature. Have the Pereskias in as small pots as possible 

 at the time of grafting, so that when the union between stock and cion 

 takes place the plants will start growing quickly by being shifted into 

 larger pots. The potting mixture should be very porous, as the least 

 stagnation is fatal to the roots. Sandy loam, broken brick, old manure 

 and a little leaf soil will be found best. 



ERANTHEMUn PULCHELLUM produces one of our brightest blue 

 flowers. It is at its best in the greenhouse during late Winter. Put in 

 cuttings during early Spring; plant in the open border as soon as 

 weather permits, lift and pot in the Fall. Splendid specimens may thus 

 be secured. 



