Friedr.von der Heiden 

 Seed Store and Nursery 

 Hilden, (Rheinpreussen) 



Cable address: Ree. Oct. 1 

 Vonderheiden 



Hilden Sept.19, 1881 



Dr. G. Engelmann in St. Louis 



Yours of May 27* h has arrived and I can give you the following answers to your 

 questions. 



The collection ofthe deceased Count Salm-Dyck which previously was 

 regarded to be one ofthe richestjs still in existence but many species and mostly 

 the best once have been destroyed. There is nothing left of Melocactus and 

 Anhalonium; Of Echinopsis, Echinocactus and Mammillaria only the more 

 common varieties remain; on the otherhand a nice collection oflarge Cereus 

 varieties is available including some 15 feet tall. The Aloe and 

 Mesembryanthemum collections are fairly complete. But the current Count does 

 not favor these genera so nothing new is bought and there is a risk that the rare 

 species will disappear 



I do not know ofany newer publication on Cacti and one is unlikely to 

 appear. 



The seeds you sent me recently germinated well; I made a mess out of 

 Anhalonium fissuratum( sulcatum) because I exposed the seedlings to sun too 

 early and they were lost to me. 



I would love to import several Pilocereus Dantwili(??) but I do not know 

 any botanist there and it might be hard to get anything out ofBolivia during the 

 war. Do you know ofany firm in St. Cruz or Potosi that I could turn to? 



Always ready to do you a good turn in return I greet you(Archivist cut 

 end of letter on copying) 



( Written cross-wise. Trans.) A friendly visit would be welcome , if as 

 suggested in your letter, you are Coming to Germany. Hilden is only two hours 

 from Düsseldorffand can be reached via rail. 



F.H. 



Transl. Westin/Eliasson 2000 



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