EEIPHYLLUM. 63 



ally advancing from the comparative obscurity into which they had 

 fallen, and one of the surest indications of this increasing popularity ia 

 afforded by that great emporium of plants, Covent Garden Market. 

 There small useful specimen Bpiphyllums may now be frequently seen 

 side by side with the ordinary market plants, and one grower in the 

 neighbourhood of London is paying special attention to them for supply, 

 ing the market. The majority of the plants raised for this purpose are 

 in 48-size pots, and are grafted on Pereskia stocks 9 inches or a foot in 

 height, forming ia two or three years compact handsome specimens. 

 These usually make their appearance on the stalls during November and 

 December, and are sold at prices ranging between Is, 6d. and 2«. 6a!., 

 according to the size of the plant and the quality of the variety. Com> 

 paratively few different forms are sent to market; two or three of 

 the richest-coloured and most floriferous are the favourites, and with 

 these the demands are supplied. 



CuLTUEB. — It may be premised that there is no especial difficulty in 

 growing Bpiphyllums fairly well, as they will do that with very ordinary 

 treatment ; but to have them in the best condition, their floral beauty 

 fully developed, attention to a few details is requisite. These are, how- 

 ever, so simple that no one need bt. deterred from growing the plants by 

 any fear of non-success. As for Phyllocactuses, the basis of the compost 

 ■employed should be light, turfy, and preferably somewhat sandy loam, 

 Ihat which has been in stack for a few months being the most suitable. 

 Eespecting this there is no difference of opinion, but with regard to the 

 other ingredients several different practices are followed. Some cul- 

 tivators do not employ any manure in the soil, simply giving a moderate 

 proportion of crocks, broken charcoal, lime rubbish, or sand with the 

 loam, preferring to apply the manure as a liquid or in the form of top- 

 dresaings. Others, again, advocate incorporating various manures in the 

 compost at first prepared, using and recommending for this purpose cow, 

 horse, sheep, deer, and fowl manure, each grower fully believing in the 

 especial efficacy of his favourite stimulant. A third, and according to 

 my experience the best system, is to employ a small proportion of manure, 

 say one-fourth of the bulk of soil, and to give what further assistance 

 may be needed either in a liquid state or as a top-dressing. The advan- 

 tage of this method is, that while some encouragement is given to the 

 roots, a stagnant and unwholesome condition of the soil is avoided until 

 the plants are strong enough to assimilate their food rapidly, and then it 

 can be supplied in exact proportion to their wanta. The Pereskia 

 aculeata, upon which Epiphyllums are usually grafted, is a strong-rooting 

 and quick-growing plant, absorbing moisture and nutriment from the 

 soil very rapidly ; therefore when it is bearing a large head of Epiphyllum 



