
LETTING OFF STEAM? 
Did you ever see that big engine sitting at the head of a sleek train before the depot, all ready to start on that swift 
journey across country? The engineer's head was sticking out the cab window and the fireman had his fire glowing bright. 
The steam was right up to the border line and every little bit the pressure would go over the line and the steam would pop off. 
Well, that’s just like the Boss out here. He’s finished his fifteenth year in the cactus and succulent business, and it was a 
decidedly better year than any year before. He’s all set to start off on a bigger and better year, so he will take this space to 
blow off a little steam. 
He says we planted a lot of fine propagating stock last year out in the north and the south fields, and it looks as 
though that stock is going to make a great big addition to this year’s supply. Also he says along about the first of March, 
that’ s when all danger of frost is past, but so early that a great many of you will still be shoveling snow out of the path, he’s 
going to set the whole crew to planting more propagating stock. He anticipates a much greater production this year, so if you 
have not been satisfied with the supply, quality or service from other sources, send him your orders this year. If you have 
been satisfied with the other fellow, stay with him, because the Boss says we are not the only good cactus growers. 
At present the Boss has a lot of the crew busy transplanting hundreds of thousands of Pleiospilos, Faucaria, Gasteria 
and Aloe seedlings out of the seed flats. They'll grow here in the winter time without heat, so planting them gives something 
to do new when lots of other things will not grow, and it will give lots of these to ship next fall and winter. 
Our aim has been and will continue to be the growing of the most useful kinds in ample supply and of the best quality. 
Since this is a business employing more than a score of steady workers, and is not a backyard plaything operated by a family, 
our price scales are based upon the study of cost experience. We sell very, very little through brokers. Our combind per- 
sonal wages and net profits are far below a broker’s selling fee. 
Our list of varieties is not so big as it used to be for several reasons. For one thing we cannot grow everything that 
might be asked for in adequate quantity to supply a wholesale market that may and does ask for items in hundred thousand 
lots. Another reason is that we are continually selecting the best and discarding the rest. You will note that we list very 
few of the quick growing or weedy types, or those that are only good for a brief season. 
At different times of the year there are certain things that are prime as to size and quality, so are best buys. Among 
such items at present is our stock of Pleiospilos, the African Living Rocks, which is the best crop of these we ever saw. 
In the Tiger Jaws there is extra good value in the Faucaria bosscheana type. We have carefully tended a big batch 
of Gasteria seedlings for more than a year. Now a lot of perfectones are ready to ship. We have a fine lot of the dwarf Mex 
ican Tree Cactus, Opuntia vilis, well branched and in a nicesize. We are one of the few firms that attempt to list the app 
roximate sizes of the stock we offer. We do not expect any body to buy a pig in a poke. 
By the way, if there is anything in our line that you have not been able to get in adequate supply, let us know. We 
might be able to grow it. We urge all those who expect to use large quantities to order just as soon as possible for next 
summer and fall delivery. We expect this to be another year of heavy demand and short supply. 
Everybody at our place wishes a Happy New Year to everybody at your place. May 1945 be the Year of Victory both 
in the East and the West. 
P. S.—Some brass collar celebrated the third anniversary of Pe arl Harbor by letting a Jap come back: to live in Los 
Angeles. Even if they all come back before you get this, we give you our pledge that we will not ship you any plants 
grown by Japs. 

Mesem agninum Fauearia bosscheana Pleiospilos Bolusii 
