SPECIMEN GARDEN AND LATH HOUSE 
The cacti in our specimen gardens are maintained to give us data 
on growth characteristics, minimum temperature requirements, frost 
resistance and seed. Much is learned also by comparison with plants 
grown in frames and in flats. Lath houses provide shelter for suc- 
culents and epiphytic cacti which need some protection from mid- 
SEEDLING CACTUS FRAMES 
After the small cacti have been replanted twice they are large enough 
to benefit by more light and air and are moved from the greenhouses to 
these raised, glass covered, cold frames. Here they are near the glass 
and lJuxuriate in the heat, intense light and free ventilation. This induces 
a vigorous root growth and early flowering maturity. 
summer sun. 
Diamond Jubilee 
CACTUS HANDBOOK 
UR desire has been to bring to the ad- 
vanced collector a more comprehensive list- 
ing of our collection and more photographs of 
the various plants. It is still not practical to 
list more than those readily available. 
Considerable thought has been given to no- 
menclature. We have used The Cactaceae by 
Dr. N. L. Britton and Dr. J. N. Rose as the 
basic authority. This four volume work was 
published in 1919-1923 and was the essence 
of twenty years of datum assembling and origi- 
nal critical analysis of this large plant family. 
It was my privilege to know both authors and 
to be encouraged by the great-hearted kindli- 
ness of Dr. Rose who was a curator of the 
National Herbarium in Washington. 
Since the publication of The Cactaceae much 
new data has been brought to light and many 
new cacti have been discovered. Of late years, 
in the light of this new data, several new re- 
visions of the family have been proposed. The 
study of plant relationships (taxonomy) is not 
an exact science. The exact relationship of one 
plant to another in the course of evolution can 
never be more than one man’s considered judge- 
ment. This must explain why a plant is moved 
from genus to genus or why a new genus is 
proposed. The changing of the specific names 
or substitution of one generic name for an- 
other is often due to another factor; the rules 
laid down and accepted by professional bo- 
tanists at the various international congresses 
occasionally held. These rules are laid down 
: VIEW IN SEEDLING GREENHOUSE 
Most of our cacti are grown from seeds as only a few of the more 
to take the personal bias out of decisions so 
that all must arrive at the same answer with 
the same data. This is slowly bringing order 
out of the chaos of the past 300 years but 
brings wails of anguish from the collector who 
must needs learn new names for old friends. 
The principal authors consulted other than 
Doctors Britton and Rose were: A. Berger, T. 
Borg C. Osten, Curt Backeberg, W. T. Mar- 
shall, H. Bravo, P. Standley, E. J. Alexander, 
R. T. Craig and current literature. This leaves 
many important authors out but since the ma- 
terial with which | was concerned was amply 
covered by these workers other material would 
not have greatly changed the result. 
Special mention must be given to the re- 
searches of Curt Backeberg of Germany. Mr. 
Backeberg collected extensively in South Amer- 
ica and for the past 20 years has written 
voluminously on his findings. He has been par- 
ticularly interested in bringing out the broader 
relationships. To do this he has created a mul- 
titude of new genera to bring the quarternary 
phyla into linear relationship. This is a great 
help to the serious student but unfortunately 
does not conform to present taxonomic prac- 
tice. Thus the conflict created is purely one 
of philosophical concept and while one can al- 
ways agree with Mr. Backeberg’s intention he 
cannot conservatively always applaud the 
achievement. 
The genera used in the following listings 
are those that for practical purposes have clari- 
fied for me rather than confused the issue. The 
specific names are as close as | can get from 
published data. 
TERMS 
1 guarantee safe delivery anywhere in 
the United States or Canada. 
Free delivery of all orders amounting 
to $2.50 or more. Canadian minimum $5. 
Foreign: add 10% for customs papers 
and packing. 
Bonus. Since our break-even point is 
almost $3 we gladly give a 10% plant 
bonus on all orders of $3 or more. 
50c packing and postage charge on all 
erclars under $2.50. 
December and January shipments, if 
Rocky Mountain states are sub-zero, only 
by express at customers expense. Except 
California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, 
Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico where 
shipments can go through at almost any 
season. 
Our guarantee is for safe delivery only. 
We cannot undertake to make good 
plants lost through improper care. If for 
any reason plants are not received in good 
condition we will give credit for damaged 
items if notified at once. Satisfied cus- 
tomers are Our greatest asset. 
robust growing kinds such as the Opuntiads and the few that offset 
as Mamillaria fragilis can economically be grown from cuttings. Though 
seeds germinate quickly the seedlings mature slowly generally taking 
about 2-3 years to characterize. Some of the Cerei etc. such as those 
used in dish-gardens or found in the dime stores may reach marketable 
size in a year. However most all the really desirable kinds take much 
longer to develop adult characters. Thus the Echinocacti start life bear- 
ing nipples like the Mamillarias and only later merge the nipples into 
their character stic ribbed growth. 
SPECIMEN CACTI AND GROWING FRAMES 
profit margin. 
2 
Across the road is seen part of a block of growing frames in which 
three quarters of a million small cacti are growing. Until they reach 
salable size they require rather constant attention not because of their 
fragility but because they must have optimum growing conditions to 
reach the required size within the time limit of their price bracket, 
otherwise the grower sustains a loss. Cacti are sold on a very close 
