We now come to the latter family, Epiphyllum, all natives of tropical America. This branch of the Cactus family is distinguished by flat shoots, and leaves without spines. The soil and treatment is identical with that of the Cereus. The best varieties are:

E. Akermanni: Fine scarlet flower.
E. Jenkinsonii.: Fine scarlet flower.
E. Speciosum: Rosy pink flower.
E. Alatum: White flower.
E. Truncatum: and its varieties, with scarlet, rosy, red, violet, and
white flowers.

All these latter varieties are drooping, and to show to advantage, should be grafted on some of their tall-growing Cereua relations. C. speciosissimus makes the best stock.

Hydrangea

This is only a summer plant, but an old favorite paired with statuary. One requisite for its successful culture is shade; if grown in the sun, the leaves become browned and the plant does poorly. With us, it is not hardy outdoors, so it must be grown in a tub, and wintered in the cellar. The flowers are produced on the shoots of the previous year. It requires to be well grown to flower profusely, and the flowers from young plants are larger than those on plants three or four years old.

While growing, the plants should have a good supply of water. For soil, use one part loam, one part manure, one part peat. The color of the flowers is pink, but if iron filings be mixed with the earth they will become blue.

Besides the well known pink variety (H. kortensis), there are many others; of these, H. japonica, with blue and white flowers, is desirable.

Agapanthus

Also referred to as the African Lily, a showy plant for summer blooming, it was introduced to Europe at the close of the 17th century as an attractive greenhouse plant and is resilient outdoors in the south of England and Ireland if protected from harsh frosts. The plants are simple to cultivate and in areas that have winter are typically grown in big pots or tubs that are safe from the frost.

For soil, use two parts loam, one part manure, one part leaf mould. Well grown it is a noble plant, but will bear much ill-usage. Treated as recommended for the calla lily, and planted in a tub, it forms a fine plant.

During winter keep in a dry, light cellar, and water occasionally but water freely while growing. There is a white variety, and one with variegated foliage; both desirable; a native of the Cape of Good Hope.

Oleander

A very showy, but often neglected plant, the Oleander is native to a broad area from Morocco and Portugal eastward throughout the Mediterranean region and southern Asia to Yunnan in southern parts of China. To bloom them in perfection, they need a stove, and yet do well in the parlor and out of doors.

Their season for blooming is July, yet that may be changed, and bloom produced at any season. They flower freely when scarcely a foot high, but will grow to the height of ten or fifteen feet, forming splendid trees covered with rose-colored, white, or variegated flowers.

Give them plenty of pot room in soil, two parts loam, two parts peat, and one part well-rotted manure. Being subject to white scale, frequent washings are desirable. They may be wintered in a light cellar, and then should be but little watered; during the growing and blooming seasons, water should be abundantly supplied.

The principal varieties are double rose (Nerium oleander splendens), striata, pleno, with double striped flowers, purpurea, dark red, and as many as fifty named varieties, all ideal window plants.