366 Notes and Gleanings. 



Franxiscea confertiflora. — When well managed, this is one of our finest 

 stove-plants. By growing two or three plants, forwarding s-ome and retarding 

 others, it may be had in bloom in succession for as many months ; and its fine 

 heads of purplish-mauve flowers and its laurel-like leaves, which contrast well 

 with other plants, make it valuable for conservatory decoration. 



Those who wish to grow it successfully should at once procure a young plant 

 in a forty-eight or thirty-two sized pot. If it is well rooted, shift it into a pot 

 one size larger, using three-fourths of good fibry peat, broken to pieces, but not 

 sifted, and one-fourth of loam and leaf-mould, in equal proportions : add to this 

 a liberal quantity of sharp silver sand, and mix the whole well together before 

 using. An inch in depth of broken crocks should be placed in the bottom of 

 the pots ; and this quantity must be increased in depth at each successive potting, 

 in proportion to the size of the pot. Over the crocks place some rough fibry 

 peat to prevent the drainage from becoming stopped by watering ; for, without 

 efficient drainage, good cultivation is impossible. Pot moderately firm, and apply 

 water until it runs out at the bottom of the pot. The plant should then be 

 placed in a temperature of from 60° to 65°, and be syringed twice a day. The 

 roots must not be allowed to suffer for want of water. In a short time, young 

 shoots will begin to push : these should be pinched off above the fourth or fifth 

 leaf By this time the roots will have reached the sides of the pot, and a more 

 liberal shift should then be given, — say into a sixteen-sized pot, — and a second 

 growth in the same season will be the result. This should be pinched off, as 

 before directed, and syringing continued till the end of October; about which 

 time, probably, the flower-buds will begin to push from the eyes at the top of the 

 second growth. Af.er these make their appearance, the plants should be syr- 

 inged only once a day when the weather is bright, but not at all in dull, cloudy 

 weather ; and, as soon as the flower-buds begin to open, discontinue syringing 

 entirely until the plant is out of bloom. 



If the plant is removed to a temperature of from 45° to 50° as soon as the 

 flowers begin to expand, they will be larger and much better colored than they 

 would have been if kept in a higher temperature. When the plant begins to 

 show signs of growth, repot ; at the same time reduce a little of the old ball, 

 though the roots must by no means be injured in this operation. The plant 

 will now require but one shift in the year ; and but one growth in each season 

 must be expected after the plant has been allowed to bloom, or its energies will 

 become overtaxed, whicli will lead to premature decay. — Florist. 



The Culture of Epiphyllum truncatum. — When well grown, this 

 plant is one of the most showy decorative of the stove-plants which flower in 

 the dreary months of November and December. I had a collection of diflerent 

 varieties in flower here ; and most beautiful objects they were, mixed with other 

 plants in a warm greenhouse. They range about three feet in height ; and, with 

 the exception of about six inches at the top, they are a complete mass of flowers 

 to the bottom of the pot. The young plants were procured from the Messrs. Lee 

 of Hammersmith, who obtained, I believe, some of the varieties from the Conti- 

 nent. I am not aware what stocks or stock they have been grafted or inarched 



