1A SHINER CACTUS NURSERY 
ECHINOCEREANAE 
Of the 6 genera-Echinocereus, Austrocactus, Rebutia, Chamacer- 
eus, Lobivia and Echinopsis—all are S. American except Echinocereus. 
Echinocereus are found from Wyoming south to the City of Mexico. 
E. choloranthus—W. Texas. Small cylindric; reddish brown spines; 
flowers yellowish green appearing far down on sides of plant. 
E. papillosus—S. Texas, Laredo. Clumping, dark green, prominent 
tubercles; flowers large yellow with reddish center. Miniature clumps 
are attractive; native of red soils. Two types—miniature and large. 
E. pentalophus—S. Texas, E. Mexico. Procumbent, deep green, ribs 
undulated. Attractive species, takes kindly to cultivation, recommend¬ 
ed for hanging basket. Flower pink with center ivory white. 
E. blanckii—S. Texas, Northern Mexico. Joints slender but stouter 
than average E. pentalophus. Ribs strongly tuberculate. Flower pink 
with dark center. In nature propagates from underground root. 
E. enneacanthus—S. Texas, N. E. Mexico. Cespitose with many stout 
stems. Flowers large between American Beauty rose and purple. Study 
would perhaps discover several varieties of this species. 
E. fitchii—S. Texas, Laredo. Plants short cylindric, simple or clus¬ 
tered ; spines brownish; flowers large, pink to rose. Prized by German 
dealers as one of the finest flowering of Echinocerei. 
E. perbellus—W. and N. W. Texas, New Mexico. Stem clustered or 
simple. Spinefe all radials pale brown to reddish or nearly white below. 
Beautiful species, very large flowers, rose purple. 
E. poselgerianus—Northern Mexico between Laredo and Monterrey. 
Few if any in American collections. Grows from underground root. On 
plain or hillside likely to grow spiny and slender. In protected canyons 
almost spineless and 2*/2 inches or more in diameter. Flower purple. 
CACTUS DISPLAY BEDS 
Plants in a rightly built cactus bed will make good normal growth, if of 
flowering sizes should produce blossoms in their season and should continue through 
the years without loss. With the foregoing standards for judging we have found 
that the most successful beds are those which are built up entirely on top of the 
ground. 
Sustaining walls of rough flag stone are slightly buried, sidewise, follow¬ 
ing irregular lines around the outside of the bed, and also leading into the center 
which is considerably elevated. Depending on the depth of the flag stone the bed 
is then filled in with pebbles, rocks, old cement, broken bricks, etc. to a depth 
nowhere less than 8 inches, and in the center proportionately higher. Next a cover¬ 
ing of sand and gravel to fill in the spaces. Finish with a good cactus planting 
soil and after plants are in place cover thickly with gravel and rough, worn rocks 
as they will prevent washing from rains and give the real desert finish and atmos¬ 
phere. 
Watering of rock gardens should be decreased in late summer so that 
plants will begin the winter partially shrunken and in safe condition to withstand 
cold and moisture. If too plump and succulent they are liable to frost rupture. 
Rock gardens should be planted in spring and early summer to give plants time to 
become well rooted. 
The hobby of cactus and succulent collecting 
dates in this country from the Civil War period 
when cactuls societies publishing their own maga¬ 
zines sprang up in Philadelphia and Baltimore. The 
St. Louis Cactus Association in existence some 35 
or more years ago was made up of many members 
some of whom were outstanding scientists of their 
generation including Dr. Louis Agassiz, Dr. William 
Trelease, University of Illinois and a present Chi¬ 
cagoan Dr. Frank Balthis, horticulturist, of Garfield 
Park Conservatory. 
Scientists and propagators of Geimiany, Bel¬ 
gium, Holland and England have been writing of 
and developing knowledge of these enthralling 
plants for over 100 years. Botanists today recog¬ 
nize 125 genera of cacti and about 1500 species. 
Even the amateur collector is urged to learn the 
scientific names of his species and thereby avoid 
confusion. 
