One must be careful with all collected plants that the needles not be damaged. - 
There are many varieties and 25-50 specimens of each may be collected. The 
plants can be heaped on top of each other in a small sack but be careful that those 
with sharp needles do not hurt each other too much. -When you have gotten enough 
plants together and start packing, make sure that the plants are free from external 
moisture and that every cut surface is dry. Also the packing material In which you 
are going to wrap the plants must be absolutely dry. Selection of packing material 
depends on what is available. Best are dried palmleaves; fibers from ground forage, 
which comes in several varieties; also cow droppings, sawdust and treebark; worst 
are hay and moss that easily get moldy and attract a mass of insects.- The plants 
need only be wrapped to the point where the needles do not cause mutual damage; 
however, the same needles also make for the beauty of the plant and must not be 
injured or broken. The wrapped plants are then preferably packed on top of each 
other in several small boxes . A number of these small boxes are then loaded into a 
large, strong box so that they do not rattle around.-- It is not unusual to find the 
described species of cacti covered with ripe fruits and it is very desirable to collect 
also the fruits. The fruits should be left to dry in sun without removing the seeds . But 
you must not get the species mixed up. When the fruits are dry then you can wrap 
each specimen in dry , strong paper and put them in the box with the plants . — 
The varieties of cacti usually grow in sandy or stony , dry and sunny, hilly or 
mountainous areas where there are no deciduous trees. — The plants must be sent 
at such time in the season that they do not arrive in Europe in the cold winter. The 
best time to send them is in February. 
(Initials) 
BOTAN ICAL 
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