meter of its unbranched stem, produced its truly splendid 
flowers, which do not appear to have been known to any 
author. In point of magnitude and delicacy of structure, 
the blossoms are equal and even superior to those of the 
far-famed C. grandiflorus. 
When we look at the strange forms of the stems of many 
of this curious tribe of plants, and the grandeur and beauty, 
whether of form or colour, of the blossoms of others, we 
cannot wonder that this family should become favourites 
with the cultivators of the present day ; when, thanks to 
our extended commercial intercourse with South America, 
every year, 1 might almost say, every month, brings to 
light new forms among this singular race. Perhaps no 
limited portion of the New World can exhibit to the eye 
such assemblages of Cactex as are now to be met with in 
many collections in England and upon the continent. It 
has been, we cannot doubt correctly, said, that Great 
Britain, at this time, possesses more Cedars of Lebanon 
than Mount Lebanon itself can exhibit; so with equal 
justice we believe may this country boast the possession of 
more Cacrex than fall to the lot of any single empire or 
republic in all the Western World, which portion of our 
globe alone is known to yield native species. That vast 
continent has supplied our gardens, from the temperate 
parts in North America to the southern extremity of Chiloe. 
France and Holland and the Royal Garden of Berlin, are 
known to cultivate these plants on an extensive scale: but 
it would be strange if our vast commercial intercourse did 
not place our own collections at the head of the list; and 
we believe that it may with truth be asserted, that the 
garden at Woburn Abbey possesses the finest general 
collection of Cacrem, in point of number and size of the 
spseiniens ; while that of the Rev. Mr. Wiuiams at 
endon is unrivalled for Merocacrs and Ecuinocacti ; and 
that of Mr. Lamzerr, of Boyton House, Wiltshire, will 
bear the palm in Crrer and Opuntiz. This collection, 
which, be it observed, is one of the first that was formed 
on an extensive scale in this country, Mr. Lampert has 
recently presented to the Royal Botanic Garden of Kew ; 
thus conferring a national benefit on the country, and 
(united as it is with a very rich collection already possessed 
by the Royal Gardens) ‘at the same time elevating our 
Cactus collection to the first rank among those of Kurope. 
Descr. Our plant of Cereus c@rulescens exhibits an 
unbrauched stem of about four feet in height, of a singu- 
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