C2 CACTACEOUS PLANT?. 



autumn, winter, and spring, being placed in the open air during the summer ; 

 and with such simple attention they have for so many years been a source of 

 considerable pleasure." P. multiflorus, a floriferous form, with reddish- 

 crimson flowers, the surface of the petals having a peculiar satin-like lustre, 

 is a similarly useful variety ; whilst one named in hononr of Mr. Peacock is 

 marked by a very rich shade of crimson. 



Numbers of fine varieties and hybrids have been raised at various times, 

 but there yet remains plenty of room for further additions to the list of 

 useful Phyllocactuses. By crossing amongst themselves with the best of 

 the Cereuses, or even with the Epiphyllums, some grand results might be 

 obtained. The last-named cross has been attempted, but unsuccessfully, 

 though if one has failed others might succeed, and a totally distinct race 

 would doubtless be produced. 



EPIPHYLLUM, Tfeiffer. 



No members of the Cactus family are so extensively grown or so 

 generally useful as the Epiphyllums, and yet it may be safely asserted 

 that their merits are not half so well known as they deserve, or as might 

 be expected by those who have satisfactorily proved their value. There 

 can be no question that Epiphyllums are thoroughly useful garden plants, 

 and wherever large numbers of plants have to be grown for decorative 

 purposes they are almost indispensable. For the smallest collections 

 they are equally appreciated, and though not quite so well adapted for 

 windows or rooms as some of the Phyllocaotuses, they can be grown and 

 flowered in such positions, and therefore furnish an important addition 

 to what may be termed home plants. They possess several qualities, each 

 of which alone would be amply sufficient to render them worthy of recom- 

 mendation, but the principal of these is their period of flowering. This 

 extends from November to February, and during these four months an 

 unbroken succession of flowers can be ensured by having a few batches 

 of plants, which can be readily brought on to follow the earliest-flowered. 

 The same plants will, however, often continue attractive for more than 

 a month, producing abundance of their bright beautiful flowers through- 

 out the whole of the time, at a season when flowers are scarcest and the 

 demand greatest. Another good trait in their character is their free and 

 quick growth, which enables cultivators to obtain plants of good size in 

 a short time. They are readily propagated, most profuse and constant 

 .n flowering, their blooms are marked by a number of extremely rich 

 and bright shades of colour, and the plants can be employed in a variety 

 of ways — in pots as dwarfs, standards, or pyramids ; planted out for 

 training on the roof of stoves, and in baskets for the decoration of con- 

 tervatories. It is not surprising, therefore, that Epiphyllums are gradu- 



