162 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. [Oct*. 



mm^ — ^ —^m, ' 



U^moss round it, and the operation is complete. Large specimens may 



fsoon be obtained by cutting down an old plant to two or more up- 

 right stems, and inserting a number of grafts from the surface of the 

 soil to the top of the stock in the angles of the stems, securing them as 

 before mentioned. Place them in a warm temperature, well shaded j 

 syringe them frequently, and in ten days or a fortnight they will be 

 firmly united ; after they have grown a little they will require more 

 air, and to be treated the same as the others. 



The treatment of all the genera of Cactace^e is the same ; they re- 

 quire to be kept dry in winter; in early spring they must be brought 

 forward and watered, they then flower, and immediately after, — 

 which is very inconvenient, for it spoils the bloom, they commence 

 growing. They should be grown as rapidly as possible in a shaded 

 house, giving plenty of water, and once a week a good application of 

 manure water ; towards the end of July or in August they should be 

 turned out of doors, where the sun and air will ripen the young shoots. 

 Gradually diminish the supply of water, and cease it altogether or 

 nearly so, in winter. The best soil for Cereus, Phyllocactvs and Epi- 

 phyllum is a mixture of equal parts loam, leaf mould and sharp sand ; 

 these should not be left so dry as to shrivel, as it often necessitates the 

 cutting away of the best part of the plant. The round kinds do not re- 

 quire so rich a soil, and they will bear drought much better ; they 

 should be wintered, if possible, on a dry shelf near the glass, where 

 they will have all the light and air possible, and away from heat and 

 moisture, which would prevent their enjoying that rest which induces 

 successful flowering in the spring. 



We shall return to the subject when we find more materials for ob- 

 servation. 



CULTURE OF ACHIMENES. 



BY THOMAS MEEHAN. 



The genus Achimenes is now so well known for its beauties, and for 

 its interest, that nothing need be said of it here. It will be in the re- 

 collection of most gardeners when it consisted of only a single species 

 the Cyrilla pulchella of L'Heritier. In consequence of that name 

 having been already given by Linnaeus to a genus of North American 

 plants, it was changed by Willdenow to Triverana coccmea, and was 

 subsequently named Achimenes by Patrick Browne. Within the last 

 ten years the number of species and varieties increased from one to 

 near fifty, all of which are beautiful ornaments to the hothouse and 

 greenhouse. They can be grown to the greatest perfection in a moist 

 warm atmosphere, partially shaded, in a soil composed of equal parts cv 

 [ broken charcoal, leaf mould and sand, and when growing can scarcely :£J 



i^> ^oim 



