KIDD'S LONDON JOURNAL. 



237 



ferior variety to others of this class. The 

 leaves are thinner and less succulent (the 

 height of the plant averages about 12 

 inches) ; the flowers which are also smaller, 

 are flimsy and ragged, and the petals are of 

 one hue, scarlet. It has this redeeming qua- 

 lity, however — it is a " free bloomer ;" it is 

 also very pretty, although not equal to some 

 others. These plants are very commonly 

 seen in baskets and hampers, in spring and 

 summer, and may be had for about Is. or 

 Is. 6d. each. 



Epiphyllum Jenhensonii is a very good 

 variety. The habit of the plant is showy ; 

 stems thick and angular, and the height of 

 the plant from 18 inches to upwards of two 

 feet. The color of the leaves a fine green. 

 The flowers, which are of a fine scarlet, do 

 not expand so much as the other Epiphyl- 

 lums which I have noticed. The shape of 

 the flower may be compared to a coffee-cup. 

 The stamens in the interior are white, which, 

 in contrast with the light scarlet color of the 

 petals, gives a very delicate appearance to 

 it. This is also a free bloomer. 



Epiphyllum Speciosum is a variety of which 

 I am somewhat doubtful as to the name, but 

 I shall describe the plant, so that there may 

 be no mistake about it. Those which I have 

 purchased for this plant, have pink flowers — ■ 

 some describe the flowers as red ; it is this 

 which makes me not quite certain whether 

 I am right as to the name. The one I speak 

 of has pink blossoms. The habit of the 

 plant is very straggling ; the leaves being- 

 round and about the thickness of a goose 

 quill. Some of these grow flat at the top, 

 which gives them a very untidy appearance. 

 In some, the leaves are all flat ; in others, 

 all round ; they bloom freely, and, mixed with 

 others, look pretty. The flowers are small, 

 but running, and care in tying up the plant, 

 will do much to overcome its unsightly 

 appearance. 



Epihyllum Truncatum. This plant I have 

 not had much experience with ; yet I con- 

 sider it ought to be classed among the 

 others, from its beautiful appearance and 

 distinct character. The leaves are pendu- 

 lous, and in small joints, growing one out of 

 the other in a very pretty manner. From 

 these joints, the flowers are developed in large 

 numbers ; they are of a very beautiful 

 rosy pink color. The time of its flowering 

 is about Christmas, and therefore it requires 

 different treatment to the others of this 

 section. The foregoing plants will answer 

 the purpose I have in view ; but there are 

 many others (which are being added to, 

 every year) that are not generally very dis- 

 similar from these. 



As the weather becomes warmer, the 

 plants will be showing signs of new life. If 

 they have been kept dry during the winter 



(which they ought to have been), they should 

 now be re-potted ; if they show signs of there 

 being the least stagnation of water at the 

 roots. If, on the contrary, they appear well 

 drained, and there is no appearance of the 

 earth having at any time become " sod- 

 dened" (which soon shows by the earth 

 looking green at the top), they may be 

 grown still in the same earth, with the fol- 

 lowing treatment : — As soon as they begin 

 to show signs of growth (which may be 

 known by the leaves assuming a pinkish 

 color at the tips, and small white, or pink 

 swellings at the edges of the leaves), then 

 the pot may be placed in a vessel of water 

 (of the same temperature as the room they 

 have been kept in) until it is evident that the 

 whole ball of earth is thoroughly saturated 

 with water. Then take it out, and let all 

 the superfluous moisture drain from it. 

 Should the leaves be dirty, they should be 

 cleaned in the following manner. While in 

 the vessel of water, let them be watered 

 with a fine-rosed waterpot all over ; then 

 take a clean painter's brush* and while 

 the leaves are wet, brush it all over very 

 gently so as not to injure the buds. This 

 loosens the dirt ; and another shower over- 

 head, from the waterpot, will make all quite 

 clean ; cleanliness is very important to the 

 health of the plants, besides adding greatly 

 to the beauty of their appearance. The 

 plants must now have light and warmth, and 

 they will soon make rapid growth. They 

 may be watered whenever the pots appear 

 to be getting dry.* Buds will soon form ; 

 these may be known from wood growth, by 

 a vein -like swelling in the leaf of the plant, 

 up to the bud itself, of a red tinge. After 

 they have done flowering, they may be kept 

 dry for a week or two, then re-pot them in 

 the following manner. Invert the pot, al- 

 lowing the ball of earth to rest on your hand 

 by placing your finger on each side ; then 

 gently strike the pot on the rim, and it will 

 very easily come off (the soil at this time 

 ought to be dry). Then carefully shake the 

 earth from the roots, taking care not to 

 break or injure them. Have ready a clean 

 pot (if new, it ought to be placed for a few 

 minutes in water, and left to get dry again) ; 

 at the bottom of this place a piece of broken 

 pottery, so as to admit of the water running 

 out easily at the hole in the bottom. Round 

 this, place carefully some other pieces, so 

 that drainage is secured. Then put more of 



* Great care must herein be observed, as it is not at all 

 uncommon for the water to run down between the pot 

 and the earth. In this case, the plant derives no benefit. 

 To prevent this, place the pot in water, in the first in- 

 stance, and continue it there. The better way, perhaps, 

 of obviating the difficulty, would be to press the earth 

 round the rim of the pot, up to the edge,? leaving the 

 top of the earth like a basin. The water must then pass 

 through the ball of earth. 



