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THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



especially wlien flowering, weak liquid 

 manures may be applied. Bone and 

 potash act favorably early in the spring. 

 A frequent sprinkling of water adds 

 health to the foliage and prevents in- 

 jury by insects. The earth should be 

 wet only when dry, and then tliorougli- 

 ly. — J. H. Bourn, before the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society. 



EPIPHYLLUMS. 



The two species of Crab's Claw Cac- 

 tus, Epiphi/lluni Russellianuvi and E. 

 truncatuni, the hybrids of which orna- 

 ment our greenhouses during winter 

 with their exquisitely colored and 

 strangely shaped flowers, are natives 

 of Brazil, where they are found growing 

 upon the trunks and bi'anches of trees. 

 They are of the easiest culture, bloom- 

 ing abundantly even when small, and 

 adapted as well for the Avindow-garden 

 as the greenhouse. Grafted on the 

 Pereskia stock, with stems from eight 

 to twelve inches high, they make beauti- 

 ful objects ; but much more lovely are 

 they when grown on their own roots 

 and in a basket. They do not want 

 anything else in the basket with them, 

 but show their beauty best when 

 planted alone, the long fringy flowers 

 being just the kind most suitable for 

 adorning the flat, leaf-like branches, 

 and which are set ofi" to best advantage 

 when drooping over the edges of the 

 basket. 



The soil most suitable for them is 

 good, turfy loam, having abouc one- 

 fourth of thoroughly decayed manure 

 or leaf-mold, well mixed, and sufiicient 

 sand to give porosity to the whole, as 

 it is imperative to allow the water to 

 pass ofi" freely, anything approaching 

 soui-ness of the soil from too much 

 water being deti'iraental to the plant's 

 growth. When the plants get large 

 enough to be put in tive-inch pots and 

 over, they should have plenty of drain- 

 age. 



Cuttings should be taken off" just 

 before the plants begin to grow, and 

 inserted in the cutting-bench, where 

 they can get a good, shai-p, bottom 

 heat ; when I'ooted, put into small pots 

 and place near the light. As they 

 increase in size, put into larger pots, 

 and keep growing by giving plenty of 

 water, pinching the points out of any 

 shoots which may be taking the lead. 

 About the month of June set out of 

 doors in a sunny position, and when 

 their growth is completed, withhold 

 water gradually, but not sufiicient to 

 cause them to wilt. If wanted to 

 flower in succession, and a good many 

 plants are on hand when housed in the 

 fall, keep part of them in a cool house, 

 and bring into heat as required ; but 

 do not water much those kept in a cool 

 house, as they ai-e apt to loose their 

 roots from rot, especially if growing on 

 their own roots. Grown on the Per- 

 eskia, they are more hardy, and capable 

 of enduring greater haixlships than, on 

 their own roots. They can be grafted 

 on some of the Cereus family, but the 

 Pereskia is the best stock for their 

 successful culture. The number of 

 flowers a single plant sometimes pro- 

 duces, when well treated, is astonishing. 

 I counted, to-day, the flowers on a 

 plant growing in a eix-inch pot, and 

 the number was seventy-six. The 

 flowers are very useful in the an-anging 

 of bouquets and baskets, lasting a good 

 while in perfection after being cut. 



The following are some of the best 

 and most distinct kinds in cultivation : 

 ■ E. Eussellianum. — This species flow- 

 ers later in the season than truncatum, 

 and has flowers of somewhat difi'erent 

 shape. There are some varieties of 

 this species distinct and superior, the 

 most conspicuous being ruhrum, having 

 large, bright red flowers. 



E. truncatum has large, rose-colored 

 flowers, and blooms earlier in the sea- 

 son than the preceding species. Seed- 



