Species and Varieties of Cactus and Cereus. 253 



of heat, although at the same time the roots are probably satu- 

 rated with moisture. The compost recommended, for the night- 

 blooming cereus, in my former paper, should be used for this 

 and all other plants of this genus. The old custom of making a 

 compost of lime rubbish, sand, and a portion of soil, it may be 

 argued, has been in use nearly a century, and that numerous in- 

 stances can be cited of the success of different individuals. 

 Nevertheless, I know of no reason why we are not at hberty to 

 try some new mode of culture, if out of the common track ; and 

 I am convinced that whoever will try the compost (which, by the 

 by, is as cheap and as easily procured as any other), will meet 

 with ample remuneration for his trouble. 



This very desirable plant puts forth its flowers in the months 

 of June and July, sometimes in May, as a great deal depen^ds 

 on the temperature of the house the plant is grown in. Size of 

 the flowers four or five mches in diameter : color a beautiful 

 crimson, the inner petals elegantly shaded with purple : the sta- 

 mens, which are numerous, are bundled together, and are as long 

 as the petals of the flower. The styles and anthers are white, 

 and present an elegant contrast with the other parts of the flower. 

 By shading the flowers from the hot sun, they may be kept in 

 full bloom four or five days. The plant should be placed in such 

 a situation, in the green-house, that there will be a free current 

 of air to every part of it, and by no means allow other strong 

 growing and straggling plants to overshadow it. No hot or green- 

 house collection can be called complete without this splendid 

 species. 



Some cultivators recommend the drying up of the plants, to 

 force them to flower more abundantly ; this is what I call flower- 

 ing the plant prematurely, — for even if a few more blossoms are 

 obtained, which I have my doubts of, the yellow, sickly appear- 

 ance of the plant when thus treated, is enough to condemn the 

 practice. 



This species is easily propagated by cuttings, and a strong 

 healthy one is preferable to a sickly plant ; and if carefully packed 

 in soft paper, and placed among clothes in a travelling trunk, or 

 among any kinds of dry goods, could be taken to almost any dis- 

 tance required. All that is necessary, after taking the cutting 

 from the plant, is to lay it on a shelf in a dry room, two or three 

 days, so that the wound may heal over. 



A cutting such as just mentioned, will, with good treatment, 

 probably flower the second year. The dark-brown vein, that 

 leads from the centre of the stem to the bud, which may be im- 

 mediately observed, is almost a sure sign of a flower. I say 

 almost, because sometimes it turns out to be a lateral growth. 

 In order to force the plant to flower, it is recommended by 

 some cultivators to cut off about half an inch of the extremity 



