GREETING 
Through this our Illustrated Catalog for the season 1933 - 1934, 
we again extend handclasp and greeting to our friends the rare 
plant lovers all over the world whose continued and growing interest 
and many requests have urged its publication. We have included all 
illustrations of 1932 -33, have added as many new' pictures as possible, 
more descriptive matter, also general instructions for the care and 
propagation of cacti and kindred plants. 
Our efforts to enlarge and improve this catalog are in line 
with a plan of friendly service which we have tried to follow' from the 
beginning. We are not in the rare plant business just for what quick 
money may be taken in. We are in it as students, sincerely interested 
in developing our nursery into a rare plant center which will be 
worthy of national recognition as a museum of W'orth w'hile species. 
Our ambition is to create and encourage throughout the United States 
and the world still greater enthusiasm in the grow'ing of these greatest 
of Xature’s plant wonders. 
A SUGGESTION-HAVE A CACTUS LIBRARY 
We urge all who are interested in cacti and succulents to have 
a reference library on these subjects, keeping together in one pla¬ 
ce their catalogs, books, magazines, correspondence and especially a 
scra])book—all handy for quick reference w'hen needed. Save all 
cactus catalogs. 
THE BLANC CUTS 
The majority of our cuts, obtained from the late J. H. Callander 
of Pe'ei'borough, Ont., Can., are those which w'ere used in “Hints on 
Cacti” the original A. Blanc catalog issued in 1890. A few' of these 
are still in existence and are highly prized by their possessors. Ano¬ 
ther treasure among catalogs w'as issued by Mrs. Anna B. Nickels of 
Laredo. Texas, a few' years later. Mrs. Nickels borrow'ed the Blanc cuts 
from Mr. Callander to illustrate her species. We have a copy, also 
the set of Callander issues during the 1890’s and early 1900’s. 
The Blanc cuts are thrilling to botany students and plant lovers 
when it is understood that often times the final draw'ings for them 
were made in far off Germany from only word descriptions and rough 
sketches sent there by the early North and South American pliant dis¬ 
coverers. These noted men pioneered as truly in this field of work 
as did the early settlers in theirs, and accounts of their expeditions 
have made plant history. 
In several instances for the interesting compeirison w'e have 
pictured a species both by the Blanc cut and by modern photography. 
OUR NURSERY 
Our nursery, now in its sixth year, has grow'n by continued 
exchange, purchase and propagation until w'e understand that it is 
the largest cactus nursery in the United States. In building up our 
slock and collection we have followed a definite program which in¬ 
cluded—first the gathering together of the most notew'orthy of the 
av>'table species in the United States, and second—the starting from 
sreds of hundreds of the wanted plant rarities from the almost in¬ 
accessible mountains and deserts of the South American countries, 
Mexico and other lands. 
Because of United States government plant restrictions many 
collections would be limited to only U. S. native species if it were not 
for the propagation of rare foreign species from seed. 
PAGE 2. 
OUR PLANTS 
Cacti and other succulents, because of their odd forms, interest¬ 
ing histories and atmosphere of romantic far away countries, are be¬ 
coming more and more popular among plant lovers and connoisseurs 
of the rare in plant life. 
The infinitely varied forms of the plants themselves, the novel 
ways in w'hich they may be planted and the comparatively little care 
which they require, make them ideal as selections for decorative 
pots, combination bow'Is or miniature desert dish gardens. 
Along the Pacific coast and across the Southern states they are 
used most successfully in all year rock gardens and display beds. In 
colder sections they may be used in summer rock gardens as suggest¬ 
ed on Page 9,with indoor care for the coldest months. 
SEEDS 
price list of fresh seeds, gathered from our ow'n plants or 
imported from foreign countries, will be sent on request. Instructions 
foi- propagation accompany seed orders. 
ASSURANCE 
We wish to assure our customers that they will not find our 
native species for sale in the 10 cent stores if it is w'lthin our power 
to ])revent it. Thinking people cannot approve ot the w'holesale 
slaughter of our beautiful native species w'hich follows their methods 
of gathering and marketing. , 
APPRECIATION 
Our list of friends, w'ho have helped in issuing this catalog by 
sending pictures or cuts of plants, has grow'n this year as we hope it 
will grow eveiT year, including—Mrs. Ethel Bailey Higgins, San Diego, 
California; Mrs. Ayako Ohashi, Japan; L. Steger, Ryan, Okla; E. R. 
Ziegler, Spencerport, (N. Y.; A. W. Grant, Express Publishing Co., San 
Antonio, Texas; J. R. Pirtle & Sons, Edinburg, Texas; Howard E. 
Gates, Anaheim. Calif; Dr. W. E. Lowry, Sr., Laredo, Texas; J. W. 
Robinson, Sebastopol, Calif; Prof. Louis Brand, University of Cin¬ 
cinnati. 
We know' the “Why of a Cactus Collector” but just can’t express 
it Many people do wonder. They tell us so. They doubt our sanity. 
So W'e have aspired to words of the world’s illustrious to say it for 
us, neatly and completely. 
First is the definition by Fritz Kreisler— 
“A hobby is a little house into which one can craw! and escape 
from life’s too bitter realities.” v 
“Happy is the man who has a hobby”, w'as the motto of the St. 
Louis Cactus Association of some 30 to 40 years ago, whose mem¬ 
bership included Dr. William Trelease, University of Illinois, one of 
the world’s foremost botanists, the illustrious scientist Agassiz and 
many others of national and w'orld wide prominence. 
“And doubly happy is he who makes cactus his hobby” writes 
Frank K. Balthis, Horticulturist, Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, 
Ill., in “Desert” Feb. 1933. A member of this organization himself 
he concludes his article. “Their spirit of wonderful comradeship, and 
their love for nature lives on”. 
If the study and grow'ing of these plants forty years ago gave 
so much pleasure and relaxation how' many times can this pleasure 
be multiplied in these days of increased knowledge, improved methods 
and greater need for relaxation from the rush of modem life. 
