154 HOT-HOUSE — OP REPOTTING, ETC. [May. 
rubevs, bright red. E. Achermania has a magnificent large 
crimson flower. Besides these, there are many superb 
hybrid varieties, vieing with any of the originals. Among 
them are the following: E. crinitum, large brilliant crim- 
son, quite new, of fine habit ; E.fuhjens, large violet crimson 
firmly formed flowers, very desirable ; E. Grahamii, very 
distinct, of a brilliant rose colour ; E. specibsa major, large 
delicate rose. E. Hibbertii, E. Hobdii, E. Boydii, E. De 
vduxiij E. quill arditt it, E. Eeastii, E. Vdndesii, E. Mayfly, 
E. elegantissima, and E. Naiphrii, and no doubt many 
other varieties and sub-varieties, will be continually making 
their appearance. All the Epiphyllum tribe require a very 
rich open soil, not of too sandy a nature, as they thereby 
grow to wood, and bloom but sparingly — give plenty of 
drainage. (Soil No. 18.) 
Opiintias, upwards of fifty "species, and are those whose 
branches are in thick joints, flat, oblong, or ovate ; spines 
solitary or in clusters. Some of the plants are very desirable 
for their singular appearance, and some of them, particularly 
0. cochin ill if era, are valuable for feeding the Cochineal 
insect. 0. microdasys, O. ferdx, 0. lacte-xpina, 0. sericcd, 
and some others, are beautiful plants, and will grow in any 
kind of soil, but No 2 will suit them best. 
Pereskias. — About four species, and those that arc of a 
shrubby nature, producing leaves ; P. aadcdta bears a fruit 
called " Barbadoes gooseberry." The flowers are very small 
and simple, spines about half an inch long, leaves fleshy and 
elliptical. (Soil No. 2.) 
The whole of the plants in the family of Gactece require 
very little water in winter, and delight in a dry, warm situa- 
tion. They do not agree with very frequent repotting ; once 
a year to young plants, and in two or three to those that are 
established, with the exception of the large, free-flowering 
species, which should be repotted once in two years, and 
never be allowed to shrink for want of moisture. 
The operation of grafting is very simple, merely requir- 
ing an incision to be made, and fitting in it a fresh cutting 
of another kind, holding the cutting stationary in the inci- 
sion half a minute, till the juices of the two adhere together, 
when it may be said the union is effected, and, in a few 
weeks, the new branches will grow freely. We have seen 
