EPirnTLLUM, 65 



tept rather dry, and placed in a warm house or frame. These plants 

 iipoa their own roots are very useful for small pots to be employed as a 

 marginal row on the conservatory stages ; they can also be used for 

 filling baskets, and in several other similar ways. The most important 

 method of increase is, however, that by grafting, as the majority of the 

 larger plants are worked either on the Pereskia or Cereus speoiosissimus 

 stocks, and by that means the natural drooping habit of the Epiphyllura 

 is more gracefully and pleasingly displayed. Considerable difference of 

 opinion exists with regard to the respective merits of the two stocks 

 named ; but the balance of evidence is in favour of the Pereskia as a 

 long-lasting and free-growing support. The principal points advanced 

 on behalf of the Cereus is that its stems are stouter and stronger than 

 the Pereskia, and that Epiphyllums worked on it endure a much lower 

 temperature than those on the accepted stock. Against this must be taken 

 the fact that the scion does not grow so freely or so quickly upon the 

 Cereus as it does upon the Pereskia, for the absorptive powers of the latter 

 seem to be much greater, and in respect to endurance no better evidence 

 of the merits of the Pereskia is required than is afforded by the fact that 

 there are many large spacimen Epiphyllums upon that stock fully a 

 quarter of a century old, and still showing no signs of decrepitude. 



The Pereskia is propagated by cuttings 5 or 6 inches long, which form 

 roots quickly in an ordinary stove or propagating frame. When struck 

 they must be potted singly in GO-aize pots and grown on quickly, trans- 

 ferring the plants into 48-pots when the smaller size is filled with roots. 

 When they have reached a sufficient height to permit the stem being cut 

 back to well-developed wood, a foot to 18 inches above the rim of the pot, 

 they may be prepared for grafting. Cut the stems ptraight across at the 

 ■desired height, then making a downward incision at the top, either 

 removing a small wedge-shaped portion or simply splitting it, the former 

 being preferable. The scion, which may be 3 to 6 inches long, either a 

 simple stem or branched, should have the base pared to a wedge shape, 

 very gradually sloping, and then inserted in the stock. It may be secured 

 •either with a small thorn thrust through the stock and scion, or by binding 

 a little moss round the juncture with matting. The Pereskia stem should 

 be tied to a small stick to prevent damage to the scion, and in a few 

 weeks a union will be effected, when the moss and ties can be removed. 

 The same system ia adopted with taller standard specimens, say from 2 to 

 •3 feet high ; but when an extra large head is desired, two or three scions 

 are inserted at the side of the stock in addition to that at the top, simply 

 by making a downward sloping incision, in which the end of the scion is 

 placed as in the first-mentioned mode. For pyramid specimens the 

 practice ia similar, except that scions must be inserted at intervals of 9 to 



