Weber A.F. 



undated 



My very dear and very honored colleague, 



I hope that it is well understood once and for all that you will excuse my somewhat 

 irregulär correspondence. I did not want to write small segments of letters. I am waiting 

 until tomorrow to write you extensively. Please do not think that there is poor will on my 

 part, much to the contrary your correspondence is an honor and interests me infinitely. I 

 consume a great portion of my free moments to the study of the Cactus. 



In the first place I thank you for the seeds that you were so kind to send me through Mr. 

 Pfersdorff as intermediary. They interest me infinitely. Throughout the winter I spent 

 much time studying the various seeds and comparing them with each other. 



The seeds of the Cereus puten aboriginorum were very interesting for me. I was very 

 surprised that this species is not a Cierge columnare but more likely a Cierge rampant 

 with very large and very leafy cotyledons. Is it by coincidence a neighbor of the Cereus 

 serpentinus, of which I gave you large unripened seeds? ( You asked me in passing if the 

 specificity if the Cereus serpentinus is exact); I can guarantee this in no certain terms, as I 

 know this species very well. It is reproduced easily in our greenhouse. 



In regards the other 2 Cereus from which you sent me seeds.The first the Cereus thurberi 

 is known to me from the Bond Commision Report. I see in the catalogue of the Hage that 

 they were described by Muhlenphord under the name Cereus ater (spines mark the upper 

 and lower sides! ( Written in English.) The second is the Cereus Palmeri which I do not 

 know. The seeds resemble the Cierge columnare. When and where have you described it? 

 Who is this Mr. Palmer? Is it he who wrote a treatise on the cultivation of the Cacti 

 present at Versailles? 



Last year and especially this one I took every possible occasion to find flowers from Cacti 

 for a herbarium that I built and that has been very succesful. The flowers are very well 

 preserved with their natural colors and later will be used for study and comparison nearly 

 as well as the natural ones. One must take the precaution of cutting the flowers in two; this 

 longitudinal cut has the advantage of being able to see the interior arrangement of the 

 flower. The flowers of the Echinocereus, especially, preserve admirably; the shades of 

 red, pink, violet and yellow remain beautifully. Only the white ones do not do as well. I 

 will try to continue this collection. I also want to include Pfersdorff in this preparation and 

 little by little I will try to make a complete herbarium. I try to make doubles as frequently 



