Weber A.F. 



Lyon, March 29, 1877 



I must also note that the plant from which the drawing has been made is very robust and 

 vigorous. The dimensions of the thorns must be more or less those of the plant in its 

 homeland. The thorn was seen in its youth on the trunk of a very vigorous Cereus and 

 although quite short it rapidly acquired exceptional proportions. The Echinocactus Pottsii 

 that flowered at the same time was of the same type. These 2 models belong to the 

 magnificent collection of Mr. Ramus at Donnemarie (close to Melon). This collections 

 was admired by all the amateurs at the Exposition Universelle of Paris in 1867. It did not 

 contain many samples but they were all first class plants with admirable vigor. The 

 Echinocactus californicus and Pottsii occupied the place of honor and I admired them at 

 that time. Mr. Ramus died in 1871 or 1872 and Mr. Pfersdorff acquired his collection. It 

 was in this way that I had the occasions to see these beautiful plants bloom in 1872. 

 Unfortunately the Paris air or the clutter at Pfersdorff s was not good for them, therefore 

 those that came from Mr. Ramus's at where at Mr. PfersdorfFs flowered only once and 

 remained stationary in their development. I doubt that we will be able to see them flower a 

 second time nor will I be able to obtain their seeds. 



I think you will be able to recognize, like I did, which is the Echinocactus californicus and 

 distinguish it from the viridescens and the cylindraceus. In my opinion it is much more 

 similar to your Echinocactus Emoryl A specimen that Pfersdorff received under this 

 name from Mr. Seitz in Prague (in 1870 or 71) was nothing but the Echinocactus recurrus 

 (syn. spiralis) providing without doubt the seeds that I have sent him. 



Another plant that I received at the same time from the same Mr. Seitz under the name 

 Mammillaria arizonica Engelmanni was none other than the Mammillaria applanata. This 

 seems to be habitual of that man who has no loyalty at all. The courageous Pfersdorff who 

 is honesty personified, frequently complained bitterly of having been caught by Mr. Seitz 

 whom he sent a pile of pretty things and who in spite of fantastic promises only sent back 

 a lot of trash or plants under false names. I also sent him as you know, many Mexican 

 seeds and he acted as if he had not received my letters. Pfersdorff and I have stopped 

 communicating with him. 



Pressed by time, I will finish this letter today telling you that there will another one. 



Today I received a visit from Mr. Martel who hopes to take advantage of the seeds that 

 you sent me (except those that are too old, that is to say more than 20 yr.). According to 

 him the Agave conserve their germination faculties much less time than the Cacti. The 

 latter are able to germinate between 2 and 20 yr. I have seeds from 1864. 



