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Colorado has cacti in considerable abundance and our 
species are almost ail new in collections* "A New Manual 
of Rocky Mountain Botany’* by Coulter and Nelson lists 
the following: 
Mamillaria - 4 species 
Echinocactus - 3 species 
Echinocereus - 5 species 
Opuntia - - 11 species 
We do not handle all of these 23 kinds since some are 
rare add others are so nearly alike that there is no 
reason for handling several* 
Ail cacti native to Colorado grow in a high altitude with 
hot dry summers and cold variable winters- Obr cacti are 
frost hardy and withstand cold as extreme as 30 degrees 
below zero when in wilted condition* They become firm 
again with the warm spring rain3* It is reasonably safe 
to say that Colorado cacti will withstand the cold in 
many regions* In their native state there is little 
winter moisture so that in moist climates they wili need 
protection against too wet a soil* They should enter 
-yylrtter in a somewhat wilted condition* accomplished by 
withholding some water• Give as much strong sunlight as 
possible. Cacti are of easy culture, and give a wealth of 
blossom and an interesting plant growth for a minimum of 
attention. The natural soil is dry and low in organic 
material but yet fertile* Much is written a.bout soil for 
cacti but remembering the above wili enable a person to 
use something at, hand. Clays hold too much water, coarse 
sand not enough water. Most soils between these extremes 
can be used if wel\l drained* Cactus soil should be free 
from a lot of fresh organic matter, yet a little well- 
rotted organic'matter and some commercial fertilizer is 
good since the cacti naturally grow on a fertile soil. 
Give a cactus good drainage and water infrequently, in 
winter especially. Y©t do not expect a cactus to thrive 
without water. They need more water in a pot than when 
planted in the open. A good idea for a potted plant is to 
set the pot on a saucer well filled with sphagnum or peat 
moss* A cactus can be killed by drouth but a temporary 
lack of water fits the natural conditions better. Ours 
