A DESERT GRAVEYARD 177 



while the lower ones are spreading. All of these centrals 

 are golden-yellow suffused with pink at their bases. The 

 flowers form in a circle at the top of the plant. The petals 

 are yellow, and the sepals are suffused with red. It will be 

 noticed that this arrangement makes the blossoms appear 

 golden-yellow In a reddish cup. 



How to grow 



Transplant early In spring In gravelly or rocky soil In sunny 

 exposures, and give light Irrigation monthly to keep the soil 

 moist during the growing season. Plants grow readily from 

 seed In moist sandy loam In flats or pots and with part shade. 

 This species Is grown indoors and out and Is hardy to fifteen 

 or twenty degrees of frost, but with zero weather it re- 

 quires protection. 



California Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus 



acanthodes — Ferocactus acanthodes) 



(The specific name means "thorny") 



How to identify and how it grows 



The stems of the California Barrel Cactus generally grow 

 singly, as high as nine feet, and one foot In diameter, with 

 seven or more grouped radial bristles, which are very sharp 

 and needlelike, fringing the twenty-seven to thirty ridges 

 along the stems. These bristles are about two inches long 

 and a grayish yellow. In the spine system there are four 

 to six radlals that are stout, and four central spines that are 

 wide-spreading and slightly hooked and cross-ridged, with 

 beautiful rose-pink and yellow shadings. The flowers are 

 bell-shaped and form in a circle around the tops of the stems; 

 they are yellow and about two inches In length and breadth, 

 opening in spring. The fruit comes on in July. Acanthodes 

 grows best in gravelly, sandy, or rocky soils. 



