shaped aculei, straight, very irregular in length, the outer 
coitts being the sfortent, and gradually lengthening, till the 
central, longer and shorter than the rest, is about an inch long. 
At and near the summit, four or five large, handsome, brick-red 
(inclining to blood-coloured) flowers are produced. The tube 
(constituting the calyx) is green at the base, then yellowish 
orange, clothed with oblong fleshy scales (sepals), acute, tipped 
with green, and bearing at the point a tuft of aciculi or bristles. 
These scales pass rather suddenly into petals of an oblong- 
obovate-acute form, spreading and imbricated. Stamens nume- 
rous, rather longer than the tube. Style columnar. Stigma 
green, of many erect or connivent rays. W. J. H. : 
Cur. The general practice with cultivators of Cacte@ is to 
grow them in poor soil, composed of light loam, mixed with 
siftings of lime-rubbish, and some sharp sand, giving them but 
little water, and keeping them in a moderately warm and dry 
atmosphere; during the winter, this treatment bemg in imitation of 
the natural climates of the plants, may be considered in a general 
view to be correct; but other elements peculiar to climate are 
wanting, before we can be said to place the Cacte@, or any other 
exotics, under the same influences by which they are supported 
in their native localities. It is quite true that we are able to 
produce an artificial climate, so far as temperature and the 
hygrometric state of the atmosphere are concerned ; but there are 
influences derived from the proximity of the sea, of certain 
geological formations, and of the greater or less elevation of 
extensive plains in connection with particular latitudes, which, 
with all our contrivance and appliances, we are unable to obtain 
to any extent. As Cactee inhabit many climates, growing in the 
hottest and most exposed arid places within the tropics, and 
ranging within 40 to 50 degrees of latitude on either side of the 
equator, it is impossible to lay down any other rule for their 
cultivation in our gardens than an approximate one. 
The modifications of this rule relate principally to temperature. 
The Cereus Leeanus, being a native of the north of Mexico, needs 
only to be protected during the winter from severe frosts: it has 
been known to bear several degrees of frost without injury. As 
spring advances it should receive some artificial heat and moisture, 
in order to get it into early growth, by which to ensure its 
flowering. Towards autumn it will be benefited by full exposure to 
the sun with plenty of free air, gradually decreasing the supply 
of water as the winter approaches. 
In respect to the soil, we have found, other circumstances being 
favourable, that Cactee are not very particular, provided it is a 
soil not retentive of moisture. J. 8. 
