14 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ January, 
smooth. Moreover, the thick leafy branches are less toothed than those of 
E. truncatum, and only one-third of their size. 
The late Mr. Hamp, of Mawbey House, Stockwell, tried hard to obtain 
a hybrid between Epiphyllum truncatiim and Cereus speciosissimus, but could 
never succeed. He did, however, raise one good variety of truncatum, 
named magnificum. Mr. Bruce, also, the talented gardener at Collier’s 
Wood, Merton, tried in vain to produce a hybrid between the E. truncatiim 
section and E. speciosum and others, although he obtained some beau¬ 
tiful hybrids in other sections. It may, therefore, be concluded that 
E. truncatum will not hybridise with the large-flowered species. More 
recently, some very beautiful hybrids were raised at the Tooting nursery 
between the E. Russellianum and E. truncatum , having the symmetrical 
form of the first, and flowering two months later than the last. The 
advantage gained by this cross was important, inasmuch as it extended 
the blooming time quite through the winter, to say nothing of the supe¬ 
riority of form which was secured. 
These varieties of E. Russellianum were:— E. R. rubrum flower double the size of 
E. Russellianum, and of a bright rosy red; E. R. cupreum,* not so large as the last, of 
a coppery tinge, slightly suffused with pur file; E. R. superbum,* in which the purple 
of E Russellianum and the reddish tinge of E. truncatum are beautifully blended. Added 
to these, a very pretty hybrid of the Russellianum section was raised by Mr. Snow r , gardener 
to the Earl De G-rey, called E. R. Snowii. No further addition appearsto have beenmade up 
to the present time to this section. 
In the following list I have enumerated and briefly described the best and most showy 
varieties of the E. truncatum section:— E. truncatum majus,* larger than the species, and of 
a deep rose colour; albo-lateritia,* petals silky white, margined with brick red; amabile, 
white and piirple; aurantiacum, reddish orange; bicolor, white and rose edged; coccineum ,* 
deep scarlet; cruentum,* dark, purplish red; magnificum, large, bright rose and white; pur- 
pur cum,* deep purple, nearly self-coloured; roseum,* bright rose; rubro-tinctum, white 
and purplish red; Ruckerianum, purplish red, tinged with violet; splendens,* deep rose; 
spectabilis, white, with purplish margin; spectabilis carminatum, white, with reddish 
margin; salmoneum, salmony red; tricolor, deep reddish purple and white; violaceum, 
silvery white, with light purple margin ; violaceum grandiflorum , like the last, but larger; 
violaceum superbum, deep purple and. white. Those marked with an asterisk are hybrids, 
raised by me, at the Tooting nursery. 
That the above are among the most useful of wflnter-blooming plants, 
whether for the greenhouse, conservatory, or table decoration, and that 
they have not hitherto received that attention they so justly merit, there 
can be no question. Plants raised from cuttings, grow and flower tolerably 
well, but they do infinitely better when grafted on stems from G inches 
up to 18 inches or so in height. This, moreover, allows the flowers to 
hang in their natural way, and also to show themselves to the best 
advantage. The compost most suitable for them is good pasture loam and 
sandy peat, in about equal parts, adding a moderate proportion of leaf 
mould, and of brick rubble. Pot them when they begin to grow after 
flowering; drain well, and do not overpot. Place them in a brisk heat 
till they have made their growth; afterwards in a lower temperature, and 
in a drier house to harden: and finally expose them to the full sun, to 
