576 GARDEN PLANTS. TART IT. 



pore I had plants which throve vigorously, and grew to a great 

 and unmanageable size, but never blossomed, which is surprising, 

 as the plant blossoms so freely in Bengal. 



2. E. truncatum. This, of which we possess three varieties, 

 bears in the Cold weather large gorgeous flowers of a clear bright 

 pink or rose colour, which, unlike those of so many of the order, 

 have the merit of displaying their beauty in the day-time. A very 

 delicate and fragile plant, soon broken to pieces if not sheltered 

 from the wind or any rough treatment ; thrives in a soil of silver- 

 sand with the admixture of a little vegetable-mould. The largest 

 specimens will not require a pot of larger size than a sugar-basin, 

 which for safety's sake it is well to insert in a larger pot filled 

 entirely with crocks, whereon the drooping fragile stems may 

 rest without fear of rotting. From its delicate habit it requires 

 to be kept in the shade, but possibly a certain amount of ex- 

 posure to the morning sun would be beneficial. Any small 

 piece broken off and inserted in the soil will take root. But 

 Sir J. Paxton says, " To obtain young specimens keep a little 

 damp moss round any of the branches, and roots will speedily 

 be found at the place." In England, as a matter of curiosity, it 

 is sometimes grafted upon Pereskia. A young stem of the latter 

 has its head cut off and a small slit made. In this the flat stem 

 of the Epiphyllum is inserted, and the graft tied round with a 

 little moss. The attempts made to effect this in this country I 

 have never known to prove successful ; which is of the less con- 

 sequence, as it is considered preferable to grow the plant on its 

 own roots. 



3. E. alatum. A plant similar to but of stouter habit than 

 the preceding. I have not seen it in blossom. Flowers said to 

 be white. 



Rhipsalis. 



R. salicornoides. A curious plant, with short jointed stems, 

 growing successively upon each other like small pieces of tobacco- 

 pipe united. Flowers small, yellow, and in no way interesting. 

 Dr. Voigt states that they " never appear here." I have, how- 

 ever, seen the plant in blossom in the Calcutta Botanical 

 Gardens, as well as at the Horticultural shows here. In its 

 native locality it is epiphytal; the growing of it in pots is 

 probably the cause of its being so shy of blooming. 



