FOREWORD 
EVERY ACT, no matter how seemingly unselfish and philanthropic it appears, has some- 
where a selfish motive. Perhaps you will wonder at receiving this free picture book which 
contains no prices of plants. If you enjoy a few minutes of interest and relaxation in look- 
ing it over it will have fulfilled its obvious purpose. If your interest and curiosity is stirred 
to the point that you write us for further information, it will have fulfilled its hidden 
purpose. 
Some years back the demand, as well as the supply of cacti and succulents for the 
wholesale market, was very small and uncertain. Interest has increased until there are now 
numerous dealers who handle no other plants and in spite of adverse conditions the de- 
mand seems to be steadily increasing. Perhaps this is due to the ease of handling and 
shipping and the retail demand. 
Upon hearing from you we will tell you of our five nationally known assortments of 
plants for the wholesale trade. These have been built up over a period of years with 
careful attention given to the likes and dislikes of our customers. On pages 33 to 37 
you will find photographs that will give you some idea of the contents of our collections. 
With more than five hundred items from which to choose there is always an element of 
pleasant surprise in receiving each order. 
No attempt is being made to confine circulation of this publication to wholesale 
channels. The public interest is the dealer's interest and if you should happen to be one 
of that public, see your florist. If you be a florist, write us and patronize an independent 
grower whose only interest is distributing worthwhile plants to those who appreciate them. 
At one time we catered exclusively to the retail trade, with large and rare items. We 
found we were starting at the top of the ladder, whereas the logical way to develop a 
larger number of collectors was to supply the individual florist. We believe we were right 
in our decision. In three years we have expanded from three city lots, with dwelling and 
two of our smaller glasshouses, to half a block on two streets with improvements as shown 
by photos on pages 39 and 40. While we have an ideal location for retail trade on one of 
Los Angeles’ busiest streets with approximately 25,000 cars passing daily, we are entirely 
wholesale. We have found it impossible to keep a stock as shown on page 10, and those 
are what our California retail customers like. All such stock on hand at present is being 
held for seed purposes. 
The pictures in this book have been selected to show the great variety of forms and 
types included under the heading of Cacti and Succulents. From the land of the tom-tom, 
the romantic rick-shaw, the Aztek ceremonial dance, the hypnotic rites of North American 
redskins and the home of the precocious chinchilla, we have assembled one of the greatest 
collections of botanical curiosities in the world. Some of those pictured are available in 
quantity today, others that are classified as rare, need not be, and will be introduced in our 
collections from time to time. 
In the spring of 1929 a small group of lovers of the odd and interesting in plant life 
decided to form a society for the study of cacti and succulents. The name of this organiza- 
tion with its 30 affiliated branches, became the Cactus and Succulent Society of America 
and soon had members in every state of the Union and all foreign countries. With litera- 
ture so limited and interest so great, this group began the publication of a monthly 
JoURNAL devoted exclusively to information concerning these plants. Through its pages 
little known plants become better known and newly discovered plants were introduced. We 
consider Scott E. Haselton, Editor and Publisher, very capable and willing to advance 
interest in this line. It 1s with his cooperation that we can use the cuts that makes it possi- 
ble for you to receive this Victory Picture Book. 
February, 1943. 
HUMMEL’S EXOTIC GARDENS 
4848 IMPERIAL HIGHWAy, INGLEWOOD, CALIF. 
Any part of this book may be quoted or reprinted by giving proper credit to Hummel’s Exotic Garden: 
and the Cactus and Succulent Journal. 
