Victory Picture Book 



SOME OF THE COMMONEST PLANTS make extremely interesting specimens such as the Hen and 
Chickens (Echeveria glauca) pictured on page 5. Imported clusters and large cacti, such as shown 
on page 6, can be handled where careful supervision of water and temperatures can be given. 
Aztekium ritteri, page 9, is truly a rare cactus at present. Collecting these plants from the slate 
bluffs of Mexico is extremely hazardous and the failure to re-establish many of them is very dis- 
appointing. Who knows but some day we may raise them in quantity from seed and mature them 
easily by grafting. But until further notice do not expect to receive one in our collections. Prero- 
cactus tuberosus, page 14, is another that will not be available in quantity. It carries considerable 
food in its tuber but takes too long to develop to make a profitable commercial subject. 
The mimicry plants of Africa, belonging to the Mesembryanthemum family and pictures on pages 13, 14, 16, 
17, and 25, are among the most satisfactory if you forget to water them a good part of the time. They always 
attract attention. The Stapelia group, some of which are pictured on pages 19, 23, and 28, has the most curious 
flowers among the succulents and for this reason are always in demand. These too are native to Africa. 
Of the hundreds of thousands of Crassula argentea (in trade as arborescens) shipped by us yearly, we doubt 
if any of them will ever reach the size of one pictured on page 24. Completely covered with tiny pink flowers at 
Christmas time, this tree is a most unusual sight. 
Crested and monstrose forms such as pictured on pages 10, 12, and 17, are collectors items and very inter- 
esting, but must usually be propagated as grafts and therefore suitable for specimen plants only. In contrast, 
are the easily grown African Babies, or Haworthias, some of which are pictured on page 27. These are our 
personal favorites as well as that of many of our customers. We never seem able to accumulate a surplus. And 
so it goes, every picture in this book has a story or a unique characteristic that makes the growing of these plants 
so interesting. 1 (Gy dake 

Sahin RE ENON SEIS 
Lert: Cephalocereus senilis the, Old Man of Mexico. RiGHT: William Hertrich, Curator of the 
Huntington Botanical Gardens with a mature plant. In the background on the left is Cereus peruvianus 
the Apple Cactus and on the right is Echinocactus grusonii the Golden Barrel. Directly in back of the 
latter is Cereus peruvianus monstrosus. 
