36 
THE FLORIST’S JOURNAL. 
far from the correct assignment as at the outset. It cannot be 
that they are required solely for a defence from the attacks of 
animals, as from the nature of their habitats, chiefly inaccessible 
spots, they are not necessary in this light; but it may be, that 
in a climate so subject to powerful electrical effects, a most im¬ 
portant effect on the vitality of the plant is wrought by these 
means, the several and numerous points acting as so many 
conductors. In the erect species of Cereus which support 
themselves, some are slender, and rising up high, jointed, and 
branched ; some are nearly cylindrical, while others are square 
and three-cornered; and there are some of the latter which are 
named from the number of angles they produce. They are 
mostly compressed and far asunder, armed with sharp spines in 
clusters at certain distances, spreading from a centre every way ; 
opposite to these are the creeping Cereuses, whose stems are 
weak and not able to support themselves ; these seek support 
from the trees by sending forth roots from the stems like ivy, 
and clasping the trunks or branches which come in their way in 
so fast a manner as to keep themselves from being blown away. 
This strange and curious family of plants are mostly found on 
the sides of steep rocks in the hottest parts of Africa, the West 
Indies, and South America. Some species are very common in 
Guatemala and Cheapo in Mexico, where they seem to be 
thrust out of the apertures of the rocks, and having little or no 
soil to support them they send their long roots down into the 
fissures of these rocks for an amazing distance ; from such 
situations they seldom live long when brought over here and 
planted in richer soil. 
But few collectors pay the proper attention to the state of 
the plant when gathered, or to the necessary drying and packing 
of them for importation to this country. They ought to be cut 
or pulled off at least a week or ten days before they are packed, 
that they may dry a little : the packing should be done with 
thoroughly dry soft hay, to keep them from wounding each 
other with their spines. If stowed into strong cases in this man¬ 
ner, every thing being perfectly dry, and care being taken that 
wet does not get at them afterwards, they will bear a voyage of 
three, four, or even five months very well. 
As soon as the plants arrive in England, those that have any 
soil about them should have it shaken away, and they should be 
allowed to lie in a dry part of the stove for a few weeks, and 
