The New York Botanical Garden 



A COLLECTION OF AMERICAN DESERT PLANTS. 



In many parts of the world, wherever local conditions are such 



deserts, occur. In America there are many of these. One of 



parts of Central America, including the vast region of Lower 

 California. Many of the islands of the Bahamas, as well as 

 many parts of the West Indies, are of this desert character. In 

 South America large desert areas occur on the western slopes of 

 the Andes. 



It has been our aim in the past few years to bring together 

 here at the Garden as large a collection as possible of living 

 plants from these arid areas, especially from those of North 

 America. The result has been a collection of desert plants 



the cactus and orpine families — and it is from this collection 

 that the plants have been selected which fill the large bed in the 

 court of the conservatories. These form only a portion of the 

 entire collection. Many other plants will be found in houses 

 no. 5 and 6 in the conservatories, and a large study collection is 

 grouped in the propagating houses. Many other desert plants 

 from other parts of the world may also be seen in the conserva- 

 tory houses referred to above. In the court of the conserva- 

 tories, however, only such plants are to be seen as have origi- 

 nated in the American deserts. 



Deserts, or regions subject to long periods of drought and at 



