CULTIVATIOH. 7 



to six parts of the former. The brick- rubble should be broken to 

 the size of peas and hazel-nuts. Lime rubbish is sometimes recom- 

 mended in place of brick-rubble. 



For Epiphyllums and Rhipsalis a mixture of equal parts of 

 peat and loam, with sand and brick- rubble in the same proportion 

 as before recommended, will be found most suitable. Leaf mould 

 is sometimes used for these plants ; but unless really good it is 

 best left out of the soil. The finest Epiphyllums have been grown 

 in a soil which consists almost wholly of a light fibry loam, with the 

 addition of a little crushed bones. 



Potting. 



Cacti do not like too frequent disturbance at the roots. In 

 April and May, established plants should be examined, and if the 

 roots are in a healthy condition, they should be left undisturbed 

 for another year. If the roots are decayed, the soil should be 

 shaken away from them, all decayed portions cut off, shortening 

 the longest roots to within a few inches of the base of the plant. 



The sizes of pots most suitable for Cacti are what would be 

 considered small for other plants. When wild, their roots are often 

 crowded in a small space between boulders. With their roots 

 cramped, growth is firmer and the flowers are produced in much 

 greater profusion than when liberal root space is afforded. The 

 pots should be well drained about one-fifth of their depth filled 

 with drainage, and over this a layer of rough fibry material should 

 be placed. The soil should be pressed very firmly about the roots, 

 keeping the base of the plant an inch or so below the surface. 



Plants with weak stems require stakes, and even the stout stems, 

 when their roots are not strong enough to hold them firmly, 

 require the support of one or two strong stakes till they have made 

 new roots and g)t firm hold of the soil. Epiphyllums, when grown 

 as standards, snould be tied to strong wire supports, thoso with 

 th-ee short, prong-like legs being most desirable, as, owing to the 

 weight of the head of the plant, a single stake is not sufficient to 

 hold the whole firmly. After potting, no water should be given 

 till signs of fresh growth are perceived, when they may be well 

 watered, and as often afterwards as the soil approaches dryness. 

 Newly -imported plants, which on arrival are usually much shrivelled 

 and rootless, should be potted in rather dry soil and small pots, 

 and treated as recommended above. Cacti are able to exist a long 

 time on the nourishment stored up in their stems. A remarkable 

 instance of this has been recorded at Kew. A plant of Pilocereus 

 senilis, which had grown too tall for the house, was cut off at the 

 base and placed in the museum as a specimen. Here it gradually 

 dried up to within 2 feet of the top, where a fracture across the stem 

 had been made. Above this the stem remained fresh and healthy. 

 Some months afterwards, it was found that not only had the top 



