Suggestions. 17 
specimen of this cactus is eight years old. The first four years it 
contented itself with clambering on the ground and about the 
lower part of the veranda. Four yearsago it commenced to climb, 
and has now reached the roof of the second story of the house, 
thirty-five feet from the ground. It has sent out innumerable 
great triangular branches in every direction, attaching itself by 
long, white roots, which loosen as the branches become strong 
and hang like a gray fringe all over the plant. It reaches across 
the windows on the upper and lower verandas, twists itself under 
the ceiling for several yards, winds about the railing and has 
thrown one branch out ten or fifteen feet, which hangs pendulous 
in a white Lamarque rose near it. The flowers open at 5 p. m. 
and close at 10 a. m., they measure twelve inches across, are 
double, creamy white outside, petals yellow, thestems two inches 
in diameter. This cactus is said to be one of the curiosities of the 
United States, being the largest of its kind known. 
Mrs. Theodosia B. Shepherd. 
FLOWERS. 
(Selected from Mrs, A. L. Barbauld, an English author who 
died in 1825, aged 82.) 
With flowers the Graces bind their yellow hair, 
And flowery wreathes consenting lovers wear. 
Flowers, the sole luxury which Nature knew, 
In Eden’s pure and guiltless gardens grew. 
To loftier forms are rougher tasks assigned; 
The sheltering oak resists the stormy wind, 
The tougher yew repels invading foes, 
And the tall pine for future navies grows. 
But this soft family, to cares unknown, 
Were born for pleasure and delight alone; 
Gay without toil, and lovely without art, 
They spring to cheer the sense and glad the heart. 
