THE CACTUS 111 



edge of my work went abroad, even collectors 

 who knew me only by reputation have sent speci- 

 mens of one kind or another, until my experi- 

 ment garden may be considered the great 

 gathering place of the varied clans of the cactus 

 family. 



In addition to the specimens received from 

 private collectors, I received also a collection 

 that had been gathered at Washington for 

 botanical classification. Most of these were 

 curious thorny specimens, and I think none of 

 them was used in my successful experiments, 

 although all of them were carefully tested. 



Some of the later acquisitions were sent by 

 my friend, David G. Fairchild slabs of three 

 varieties from Sicily. I received also specimens 

 from collectors and botanists from Mexico, 

 South America, and Hawaii, as well as almost 

 numberless varieties from all regions of the 

 United States where any form of cactus grows. 

 The so-called Smith Cactus, a variety introduced 

 into California by Professor Emery E. Smith 

 about forty years ago, proved of first value as a 

 hybridizing agent. 



MANY SPECIES BUT MORE NAMES 



But it is almost impossible to gain a really 

 accurate conception of the materials employed, 



