162 
FORCING BULBS TO FLOWER IN WINTER. 
Affinities of the Order. —That remarkable distension, or increase 
of the cellular tissue of vegetables, from which the name of succulent 
is derived, is no indication of Natural Affinity, but rather to he 
considered a modification of structure, which may he common to all 
tribes. Hence, the immediate relationship of Cactese, with Gros- 
sulaceae, (the currant tribe) in which no succulent tendency exists; 
the only difference in the nature of the two orders consists in the 
stamens of Cactese being without limits; the seeds without albumen 
or inner skin, and the Calyx and Corolla, undistinguishable; while in 
Grossulacese the stamens are five, the seeds have the inner skin or 
albumen, and the calyx and corolla are distinct. Through Rhipsa- 
lis, Cactese are connected with Portulacese, to which also the curved 
embryo of the section of Opuntiacese probably indicates an approach; 
and Decandolle further traces an affinity between these plants and 
Ficoidese. 
Geography of the Order. —All the species appear to he natives of 
America, they are abundant in the Tropics, and extend hut a short 
distance beyond them either to the North or South. The species 
which are said to be wild, or naturalized in Europe, Mauritius, and 
Arabia, have been introduced from America, and having found 
themselves in situations suitable to their habits, have taken posses¬ 
sion of the soil like actual natives. Hot, dry, exposed places, are the 
favourite stations of Cactese, for which they are peculiarly adapted, 
in consequence of the small quantity of evaporating pores which 
they possess, as compared with other plants; a circumstance which, 
as Decandolle has satisfactorily shown, will account for the exces¬ 
sively succulent state of their tissue. 
Properties of the Order. —The fruit is very similar in its proper¬ 
ties to that of Grossulacese, some being refreshing and agreeable to 
the taste, others mucilaginous and insipid; they are all, however, 
destitute of the excessive acidity of some gooseberries and currants.* 
ARTICLE VII. 
ON FORCING BULBS TO CAUSE THEM TO FLOWER IN WINTER. 
BY MR. F. F. ASHFORD, 
Gardener to P. L. Brooke , Esq. Mere Hall , Cheshire. 
Being a constant subscriber since the commencement of the Regis¬ 
ter, I have, with several of my neighbours, hailed with pleasure, the 
first day of every month, feeling assured that your Magazine would 
* Lindl. Int. Nat. Syst. 
