OVER THE GARDEN GATE ~~ 
HOWDY NEIGHBORS: 
It’s a great disappointment that | will not get around to 
see you this year. That onery old doctor thinks | had better 
stay close to home. Consequently I’ll miss your smiling face 
and the friendly chats we have had. | did kick over the traces 
enough to fly to El Paso and join in the good times at the con- 
vention of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America. We 
really had a good time. Those Texans are good hosts and all 
of the cactitians are real friendly folks even though they are 
called ‘‘cactus nuts’. I came home feeling better and may be 
a little puffed up because so many of them complimented us 
on the fine plants we have been sending out this year, We 
think they are better than ever as we have been working to 
that end for many years. We would rather send out the best 
plants at a fair price than junk at a low price. 
In speaking of price, just how much time do you think can 
be put into all the operations of growing, digging and packing 
a five cent plant? It is easy to estimate it. It’s only between 
ene minute and a minute and a half. Lots of the plants on 
this list are two to three years old, yet there are some folks 
who think we should ship them for three cents as we did in 
1940 when wages were eighteen dollars a week and taxes 
were almost nominal. 
We do not like to “buy a pig in a poke’”’ and we do not 
think you do either. So in getting out a list such as this one, 
we like to give the size you can expect for the price. All of 
the smaller sizes except the Miniature which is planned for 
1%-in. pots and a few in the Dish Garden Assortment, are 
large enough to balance a 21%4-in. pot and be ready for im- 
mediate sale. In all our assortments except the Gates Dish 
Garden and the Super Duper, we put in equal numbers of each 
kind and every kind is worthy of a place in the assortment’s 
price group. 
Since we have found an increasing market for bigger and 
better plants than are offered in our listings, we are gradually 
increasing stocks of larger plants. This takes time and we are 
sorry that we do not have the many kinds of these in large 
enough quantities for separate listings. Se we will merely 
state that you can order them at 35c, 50c, 75c, $1.00 and 
$1.50 each. If there is any particular item you would like in a 
larger size, just drop us a line and we will tell you what we 
can do. All of these as well as the rest of our items, are 
nursery grown from start te finish; which means better plants 
that not only look better but will grow better, In speaking of 
good looks, do you realize that ‘‘good looks’’ is the only thing 
you and | have to sell? Customers buy your ornamental stock 
and ours merely because it looks good and so they like it. They 
can’t eat it, they can’t wear it and it is no good for fire wood. 
Many ask us about what is the best soil to plant cactus 
and succulents in. We think a free draining neutral soil is best. 
Probably the addition of coarse sand and small gravel to your 
regular potting soi! will make it highly suitable. Sterilized soil 
helps. Watering should be carefully done while the plants are 
being re-established. After that water well whenever really 
dry. Go slower in winter and during damp weather. Most 
cactus diseases belong in the ‘“‘water mold” and similar soil 
borne groups. Continuous moisture produces the proper con- 
ditions for these diseases te flourish. Too much shade will 
produce a soft and skinny growth. 
Adios 
Howard Gates. 
ASSORTMENTS 
To those who only wish a few of a kind, we recommend our assortments. They are made up of carefully selected plants from 
each price group and often include some kinds that we do not have in large enough quantity te list. Every ene is a good kind and 
worthy of a piace in the assortment. In the first four assortments listed below, we always put in equal numbers of each kind included. 
The other assortments will vary in numbers of a kind owing to the purpose of the assortment and steck limitations. 
MiNIATURE—Tiny all cactus or cactus and succulents mixed for 11/4 in. pots, Our selection. $3.00 per 100. 
SUNSET—AII cactus, all succulents or mixed as requested for 2-212 in. pots at $5.00 per 100. 
GOLDEN WEST—Larger plants of the Sunset group for 2'/2-31/, in. pots at $7.50 per 100. 
LITTLE JEWEL—These are the slow growing choice cactus of our price group ‘'B"’ for 2-212 in. pots at $7.50 per 100. 
ROYAL—Larger or choicer plants for 21/2-3/2 in, pots. Please say whether large size or choicer kinds are preferred. $10.00 per 100. 
SUPER—Larger or choicer plants for 3-4 in. pots. Please say whether large plants er smaller cheice items fer fanciers are desired 
$15.00 per 100. 
SUPER DUPER—Still larger or better plants as preferred. $25.00 per 100. 
GATES DISH GARDEN ASSORTMENT—Corefully selected cactus and succulents in varying numbers frem all size and price groups for 
the purpose of making up complete, well balanced dish gardens. $6.00 per 100. 
NURSERY GROWN CACTUS ARE REALLY BETTER 
a a a rr 
Prices listed for 100 of a kind. For ten or more of a kind and less than twenty-five, add 20% service charge. If you desire 
less than ten of a kind, order one of our assortments and ask for as large a variety. as possible. Since these prices are wholesale, 
$5.00 is the minimum per order. Approximate sizes of the plants we offer, are given in inches below the price group headings. For 
quantity discounts see ‘‘Terms”’ on the first page. . 
Price Group th B Cc D 
CACTUS PLANTS Price per 100 $5.00 $7.30 $10.00 $15.00 
ASTROPHYTUM ornatum. Spiny Bishop Cap. Globular, usually five angled, many white 
dots,stout spines, yellow flower 27 -..-.ctceecccserre eee ee ee 1-2 2-2, 
CARNEGIA gigantea. Arizona Giant. Globular, becoming heavy columnar, many ribbed, 
short stout Spines.- 22-5 c io 2e aon en sen nn ce nose own aan nome e ene aetna pecan eee see 22-3 
CEPHALOCEREUS mezcalaensis. Stout columnar, fluted, short spines, new... 1-2 2-3 
CEPHALOCEREUS senilis. Mexican Old Man. Stout columnar, covered with long white hair. 1-2 2-2, = 
DOG TAILS. Slender cactus suitable for animal tails, assorted... eee. 2-3 3-5 
ECHINOCACTUS grusonii. Golden Ball. Globular, bearing gleaming yellow spines, : 
Woolly CrowWmM, #VEry, POPUL Cee ee tce ss cee Serene eee ee ee “VVy-2 
ECHINOPSIS Hybrids. Easter Lily Cactus. Globular, some long, some short spined, very 
large pink or white flowers in spring and summer. eo eeeeee eee eee 1Yy-2 2-2 Vp 2-3 
ECHINOPSIS mirabilis (Setiechinopsis). Very unusual, dwarf, cob shaped, dark body, slen- 
ders white sright flow ences ace ece ower ae tee gece ee ee ee 1-2 
a en ren RL 
