Gardening for Amateurs 



763 



Pt^Ilocactus. The garden varieties of 

 Phyllocactus are exceedingly numerous. 

 When in flower they are among the showiest 

 of all Cacti, and, what is more, they are very 

 easily grown. Cuttings of the shoots form 

 roots without difficulty if put in well-drained 

 pots of sandy soil, placed on a shelf in the 

 greenhouse and not over-watered. When 

 repotting is needed it should be done in 

 spring, using a compost largely consisting 

 of loam with the admixture of a little leaf- 

 mould, broken brick rubble, and sand. Care 

 should be taken not to use too large pots, 

 and they must be clean and effectually 

 drained. The plants should, except when 

 in flower, be well exposed to the sun. In 

 summer they may be watered fairly freely, 

 but in winter this work must be carefully 

 carried out. The different 

 varieties vary in colour from 

 white to deep red, through 

 various intermediate shades. 

 Those of bright orange or 

 vivid scarlet, shot in the 

 centre with purple or violet, 

 are particularly attractive and 

 showy. 



Of the true species especial 

 mention may be made of the 

 creamy-white P. crenatus, and 

 P. phyllanthoides, the most 

 floriferous of all. The flowers 

 of this, borne, as in all the 

 others, during summer, are 

 small and of rose and white 

 colouring. The garden varie- 

 ties are very numerous, and 

 as many of the raisers give 

 their own names there is a 

 certain amount of confusion 

 among them, so that very 

 little purpose would be served 

 by giving a list. Catalogues 

 should be consulted. 



Pilocereus. The only 

 species of Pilocereus worthy 

 of especial mention is P. 

 senilis, popularly termed the 

 Old Man Cactus. This derives 

 its name from the apex being 

 crowned with a tuft of long 

 white hairs suggestive of 

 those on an old man's head. 



It is sometimes called Cereus senilis. This 

 Pilocereus needs the same treatment as 

 Mammillaria. 



Rochea, Rochea falcata is a pretty 

 flowering plant which is sometimes called 

 Crassula. It is of erect, sturdy growth, 

 with fleshy, sickle-shaped, grey-green leaves. 

 The flowers, borne in July and August, are 

 arranged in densely packed terminal heads. 

 They are of bright red with conspicuous 

 yellow anthers. This plant may be in- 

 creased either by offsets or by single leaves 

 treated as cuttings. This is best done in 

 spring, which is also the time to repot. For 

 this purpose ordinary potting compost will 

 suffice. Exposure to full sunshine, careful 

 watering and well-drained sandy soil ensure 

 success with succulents. 



ndsome succulent plant, with scarlet flowers 

 (Kalanchoe flammea). 



