10 
SHINER CACTUS NURSERY 
SEEDLINGS ARE ADAPTABLE TO HOME CULTURE 
Cacti and other members of the succulents are becoming more and more 
popular each year with amateur plant lovers over the world. Some of the 
reasons for this are that they require but little care and space, develop more 
interestingly and give more pleasure and lasting satisfaction than any other 
house plants. A very worth while collection of varied forms may be grown in 
any ordinary window. 
Having adapted themselves through generations to regions of extremes 
of heat and drought they are therefore much better fitted to live happily in 
the average home and apartment or office building. They will continue to gain 
recognition because of this adaptability and because of their curious forms, 
great range or colorings, and designs, exquisite flowerings and the infinite 
surprises which they unfold in their development. 
Because of more rapid development and because so many multiply from 
A Flat °f S ee dlmgs 6-8 months °ld. Right center some Cephalocereus offsets the African succulents are obtainable in the United States as beauti- 
senilis 
ful little plants. This is not true, however, of many of the world’s most un¬ 
usual species of cacti. Government restrictions in force for many years for¬ 
bidding entry of plants from foreign countries have made it impossible for collectors to obtain their different and most desirable species. To ob¬ 
tain these exotic species it has been necessary to raise them from seed. The Shiner Cactus Nursery has taken a leading part in making available to 
collectors many otherwise unobtainble species. 
Cactus seedlings are slowly but sui’ely winning their way into favor and general demand. Grown from infancy under conditions similar 
to those in a home they are much more likely to grow successfully than plants which have been uprooted from western mountains and southern 
deserts. Seedlings are already acclimated to indoor 
conditions while mature plants usually find it impos¬ 
sible to adjust themselves to an entirely different en¬ 
vironment. Many collectors who have wondered at 
their lack of success with desert species will see the 
truth of this explanation. It is also true that collected 
plants are seldom perfect in form having been subject 
to extremes of weather and attacks by birds, insects 
and animals. 
African succulents and desert cacti require a soil 
which is alkaline. A test with 5 cents worth of litmus 
paper will answer the question. Press paper into wet 
soil; if it turns pink the soil is acid, if blue it is alka¬ 
line. 
1. Lemaireocereus 
dumortieri. 
2. Lemaireocereus 
stellatus 
SEEDLINGS OF MEXICAN SPECIES 
3. Lemaireocereus 6. Lemaireocereus 
de Mixteca weberi 
4. Pachycereus marginatus 7. Coryphantha exsudans 
5. Lemaireocereus 
de Toliman 
