‘Issued monthly by C, R, ORCUTT, Editor,
BAIT asim a CAT.
Bernas as AINIT OUNCEMENT:
h ienue will hereafter consist mainly of asingle article.
Subscription is $1 per volume.
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CACTI AT HOME.
| THERE is a charm for
the most of mankind
‘or womankind in those
icts which tend to dis-
31 pate the mysteries of
» unknown. It was
with something of this
ee ling that the writer
followed a couple of In-
lians, out of a quaint
old Mexican town, past
cient Spanish water
ways, through narrow
anes bordered with
vine- -covered walls and
mango trees, intoa’part
f the world that might
ell represent an orien-
tal land. Rare tropical
eauty rested on the
vorld around us; brill-
lant and fragrant flow-
ers grew about us; and a restful feeling seemed to fill the air—to
udge from the languid motions of my companions.
_ We followed an illy defined trail around a steep hillside, un-
er oak trees festooned with Spanish moss, air plants, and other
ee stable growths of epiphytic habits. Resurrection plants, in
ed balls so familiar in florists’ shops, but larger, and impress-
ng one with greater possibilities, grew on the rocky slopes above
High, overhanging precipices, covered with vegetable pro-
it ictions new to me, furnished a foothold for Mamillaria spinosis-
ima—a cactus so completely enveloped with fulvous, hair-like
pities as to resemble a dormant bat. Some of the plants were as
e early inaccessible as could be imagined, hanging, pendant from
x e cliff in a most tantalizing fashion, and many had thus grown
Or a foot or more—specimens that would make a cactus-fancier
urn green With envy to see in a collection not his own.
sg
ih, Aili te 2D each La) I a
118
Here too, was grow-
ing a very pretty Agave,
known to dealers as
Agave Gilbeyi—but to
botanists as a variety Z,
of A. horrida—a name G44
which it least deserves. hy
Returning to the
quaint Spanish-Indian
village I found ‘‘La
Flor de San Diego,’’
(Lelia autummnalis ), fe
growing luxuriantly on R¥
the trees, and found it
highly appreciated by
the flower-loving in-
habitants. Plumieras EcHINOCACTUS MCDOWELLII.
were brilliant with blossom in the small gardens, beside the coffee
and the mango, and a solitary ash grew in one of the streets, like
a majestic guardian of the public peace. :
Night came on, the village of some 1,500 inhabitants, which
had once boasted of 15,000, did not possess a single hotel. But
a jolly-looking fat woman, living with her aged mother, wel-
comed my companion with the greatest effusion, and we were
allotted a platform of boards in one corner of the one-roomed
house—she and her mother occupying an opposite corner simi-
larly provided with a rough board platform. By advancing a
few ‘‘tlacos’’ we secured a modest repast of bread, herb tea,
milk and eggs, and in the evening a party of travellers with a
burro train, from the City of Mexico, sought hospitality beneath
the same roof. Their train of burros, loaded with merchandise,
were driven singly through our apartment into a small yard in
the rear, where theg were unloaded, and later fed with corn-
stalks which some of the men finally secured of some of the vil-
lagers. ‘The six.or eight Mexicans that accompanied the train,
made their repose in the ruined leanto, which served our hostess
for a kitchen. :
: It may be incidental- —
ply noted here that in-
Mexico chimneys are
all but unknown--cook-
‘ing being carried on
ij in small furnace-like ar-
_rangements, even in the /7 i;
City of Mexico, where_
charcoal is mostly used | 4
for fuel. Nowhere in 4
Mexico did I see a fire- ° Z
place or a stove. The “=
poorer people use the
ground for their fire-
place, or boxes filled: \sf (de soy att ee,
with BeeehY aciietiaiee: ECHINOCACTUS No. 79. |
_ We have thus found one cactus at home, and I have referred) 7 aay
‘to it as Mamillaria spinosissima—but thereby hangs a long tale. . ‘
Prince Salm-Dyck was the first to name this, one of the most af
beautiful of all known cacti, but it has also received a multitude
7 of other names since—such as M. pretiosa, splendens, Uhdeana,
‘polycentra, polyacantha, polyactina, and nobody knows how he
‘many more. Now, all the Mamillarias have to be transferred to és
the Old Linnean genus Cactus—because that is an older name :
than Mamillaria, and also because the name Mamillaria was first
applied to a genus of seaweeds. Hence, our plant would na-
turally become CACTUS SPINOSISSIMUS, and Otto Kuntze actually
has given it this name, though very unfortunately, since that
mame was given years before to a very different plant, and of
ourse cannot be used again without confusion. Now comes the
question as to what specific name is next available in point of
age, a question by no means easy to answer, for dozens of books
‘will have to be consulted, and some of these books may not be
} found nearer than London, where we shall have to find some
botanist who will look at them for us. So this muddle of names
will have to continue, and until we learn the name that it can be
called by most properly, we can call it by Kuntze’s name, Cactus
r
- UR gS
“e © YO LA,
ul \" ' 4
120
Well, the last thing that night we were given notice that the
biggest official of the town wanted to see us at his office the next
morning by 9 o’clock. Now, we wanted to be at the nearest
railroad station by that time, and so we tried to find his honor
and learn what act or acts of lawlessness we had been commit-
ting. We did not dare to leave until he had given his permis-
sion, and we did not wish to stay, but fortunately my assistant
found him easily, and after much talk, we learned that he had
discovered that day, by looking over the old records of the town,
that eleven years before a party had been in the town on the
same errand as ourselves—after plants and seeds—and he wished
to know if the seeds that the villagers traded off had grown well!
My assistant fortunately remembered the name of the principal,
who was once a seedsman in the City of Mexico, and by explain-
ing that the firm no longer existed, and that I was from the Uni-
ted States of America, way off in California, we were finally
given permission to depart the next morning in peace. And the
next morning we set out, following a new route to the railroad, at
noon reached the ‘‘ Bunker Hill of Mexico,’’ charming Cuautla,
and that night I was again in my quarters in the City of Mexico.
A few days later, securing horses and saddles, I started from
the City of Mexico, following much the same line of march over
which Cortes, centuries before, marched in triumph from the sea.
Snow-clad Popocatapetl loomed over us like a white-capped cloud
—rising nearly 10,000 feet above the valley at its base. Through
silent, sweet smelling pine forests lay the pass through the mount-
ains, and remembrance of the past history of this region recalled
those lines of the Spanish war song—
‘‘ Their pines murmur song
Where bright blood hath been shed.’’
As dusk approached I was urged to make greater speed, while
my companion regaled me with tales of cruel robberies, and
mentioned that certain places we had yet to pass possessed un-
savory reputations. Hastily passing over these interesting days
on horseback, the views of the pyramid of Cholula, the city of
Puebla, etc., I pass on to the rancho of Santa Rosa, where we
arrived one afternoon. Near the railroad station I climbed a
little hill and collected the most beautiful cactus I have ever
found in its home—the lovely Mamillaria elegans—which we
must now call Cactus supertextus for reasons already given in
previous remarks—a neat ball of short white spines, bearing
lovely pink flowers, exquisite in every part.
The surroundings much reminded me of Californian landscapes.
Many pretty flowers were in blossom on the seemingly dry, bar-
ren hill, and around the station, and near the little pond ciose
by were the last zephyr flowers of the season { Zephyanthes
atamasco ), of a lovely shade of rose-purple, springing like fairies
out of the ground. C. R: Orcurt.
CACTI, SUCCULENTS,.
TREES, SHRUBS, AND FLOWERING PLANTS.
Special Offers, August, 1S0-L.
LYON & COBBE, NURSERYMEN, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
Lovers of the odd and beautiful will herewith find many well known and favorite trees
and plants, and
not a few that heretofor:
hav never been offered b; dealers in the
United states, and of which we have large stocks ready for IMMEDIATE WELIVERY. Except
where noted, all are thrifty plants, of merchantable size, and can be safely forwarded by express
at any season, or by freight during the months of October and November, and March, Ap il and
May. a
some cacti and succulents too lage for mailing
Where ordered by mail we furnish a smaller sized plant post-paid, except in the case of
Customers should remit cash with order, and give post-office address, and name express or
freight office, with shipping instructions.
Mauy of our cacti are entirely new to science, and as additional sorts are almost constantly
arriving from our collectors, revised lists will be sent, as issued, to those requesting them.
CALIFORNIAN AND MEXICAN CACTI, AND SUCCULENTS.
AGAVE (Century Plants).
AMERICANA L. var. MILLERI. A
popular form in Southern Californi« gardens,
with glaucous foliage. $1 to $18 each.
AMEKICANA L. var. VARIEGATA.
Foliage with white ma:gins; an excellent com-
panion for var. Mille::. *50e. to $1v.
DESERTI Engelin. Peculiar to the
Colorado desert rather small and with glaucous
white foliage,-very beautiful $1.
HETERKACANTHA Zuce. Lecheguilla
of Texas and Mexi 0, with sle der, curving
leaves curiously mottled. 25c¢, to #.
MARGARITAS Brandegee. A dwarf
insular speciesofgrea beauty.and entirely new;
very symmetrical, with broad leaves and very
large murginal spines. 31 to $4.
PARKYI Engelm. .p Be ce ace ee oe ee ee 15
SCTRSRLURG...5. fort ow seek oe tect
senilis .
tender.
ee ee 2 ee a a
meee
re
Sees cess Oe ee erence He oe © Ome
tenuispina......-.
tessellata ie
VAUMDENUDMATRA tebe) ee
tuna, cnttings .- Sa
“Cows tongue,’ ‘large flat joints Nee ar 2
‘Mammoth’ s tongue,’ very large joints .
No. 2337: beautifal spines; cuttings. : 75
Eight unnamed varieties, the set for $2; each
PHYLI.« ‘CACTUS.
ACKERMANNI Haw. King cactus,
flowers bright red. 25c.
KAMPMANNI. Flowers larger and
brighter. 50c.
LATIFRONS Zuce. Queen cactus. 25e.
WRAYI. Very large white flowers. 75c.
YUCCA.
BACCATA Torrey. Smal] plants. 15c.
BREVIFOLIA Engelm. $1; 5 feet high, $10
PERUVIANA. $2 each for fine plants.
WHIPPLEI T. & ‘+. 15e. to $1.
TREES, SHRUBS, AND FLOWERING PLANTS.
Plants mar.ed 1 are entirely hardy upon the Pacific coast and in Florida,
Plants marke1 2 wili endure with trifling protection through the Gulf States.
Plant~ marked 3 hardy worth and east.
Plant» inarked 4 strictly stove or greenhouse plants.
ACACIA.
1. DECURRENS. The true tan bark
‘“‘wattle.”” Our stuck is authentic—not mixed
with the a most indistinguishable A mollissima
and A dealbata ve. each. $1.75 p+r 19.
1. MELANOXYLON. “Blackwood.”’
Splendid avenue or street tree 20c. each, $175
per 10.
1 NERIITFOLIA. Perpetnai flowerer.
20c. each, $1.75 per 10.
1. LONGIFOLIA. Suitable for
I. TRINER VATA.) planting on
‘shifting sands. 20c. each $1.75 per 10.
_ Where extensive plantations of Acacias are to
be made we can make special rates by 100 and
by 1000.
ADENOCARPUS.
2. ANAGYRUS. Dwarf evergreen
shrub from Teneriffe, bearing crowded racemes
of yellow fiowers. 25c
ALBIZZIA.
1. SALIGNA. Robust grower. 20c.
each, $1.75 , er 10.
ANANAS.
1 SATIVUS. ‘‘ Pineapple.’’ Red
Spanish, the hardiest. 40.. each, $3 50 ver 10.
Sugar Loaf More tender, choicest of fruits,
Porto Kico} 75 . each, $7 per 1.
Now fruiting in many localities in South Cali-
fornia. Can supply pot grown or splendid stock
from open xzround,
ANONA.
1. CHERIMOLIA. A_ very large
ruited variety of this luscious tropical fruit
rom Guatemala. 980c.
ANTIGONUM.
| 2. LEPTOPUS. A lovely pink flower-
ed Mexican climber; old, but tvo little known
Nuw spontaneous in some very cold ‘ocalities in
Texas The topie willed down by the slightest
frost, but is renewed from its perennial root
‘nextsummer. Trained upon trellis for pot cul-
are in the north, it make- a sp'endid acquisi-
on t» the greenhouse. 40c.
ASTKRAGALUS.
13. VULPINUS. A dwarf Siberian
evergreei ‘Vetch; a compact, handsome and
-Rardy perennial. 15c.
BAUHINIA.
1. ACUMINATA. Indian shrub with
Jold milk white flowers. 5c. each, $4.50 per 10.
* 1. PURPUREA. Indian shrub with
‘Very large reddish flowers. $1 each, $9 per 10.
1. TOMENTOSA. Indian shrub with
re y large yellow flowers. $1 each, $9 per 10.
| BOCCONIA.
2. CORDATA. Stately plant of Chi-
‘Dese origin; a striking decorative subject of the
irst class; broad pulmate leaves of a metallic
‘#laucous green, and buff colored flowerr; re-
Mires little if any protection in the south. 50c.
BIGNONIA.
TWEEDIANA. A royal climbing
plant, too little known; of profuse inflorescence,
he individual flowerets brilliant yellow, of the
size and texture of an Allamanda. 50c.
ter blooming, 450c.
CALODENDRON.
1. CAPENSIS. A vrand Proteaceous
tree from the Cape, of rapid growth and reputed
to flower early. $1
CASUARINA.
1. GLAUCA. 2vc. each, $1.50 per 10.
i SUBEROSA. 20c. each, $1.50
per 10
CASUARINAS are trees of graceful habit, phe-
nomenally rapid growth, and well adapted for
planting on sandy wastes, Make quick and ex-
cellent fuel and shelter. We can furnish in
large quantities at reduced rates,
COPROSMA.
1. BAUERI. The verv best vuarie-
gated half hardy shrub extant. Brilliant yellow
and dark green foliage, lustrous and shining at
allseasons. The very best forms of Euonymus
are dull and incomparable toit. 35c.
CHORIZEMA.
1. ILICIFOLIUM. 59c.
1.. VARIUM. 40c.
1. LAWRENCIANUM. 50c.
CHORIZEMAS make pretty and easy subjects
for culture in pots under glass, or planted out in
temperate latitudes The whole plant becomes
aglow with scarlet. coral red or orange red blos-
soms, in the summer and early spring.
~CLIANTHUS.
2. PUNICEUS. ‘‘Parrots’ Bill.’’ Vig-
orous red flowered climbing plant. 2c.
DRAC ANA.
4. TEtMINALIS. Splen/id,
colored specimens. 75c. each, $6 per 10.
EUCALYPTUS.
2. COCCI et
high
Two Aipine species,
2. URNIGERA. | thehardiest known.
25¢. each, $2.25 per 10.
1. LEUCOXYLON. } Very hardy, re-
1. GUNNIL. { puted to thrive
in Southern Texas. 15c each, $1 per 10
1. ROSTRATA. Standard timber
1. GLOBULUS.§ sorts. $1.25 per 100,
$10 per 1000
1. POLYANTHEMOS. The best
1. CORYNOCALYX. and most or-
namental of the round leaved sorts. 15¢. each,
$1 per lo.
1. FICIFOLIA Crimson flowered,
tender species. 35c. each, $3 per. 10.
1. CALOPHYLLA. White flowered,
tender species. 35c. each $3 per 10.
_ These two latter, are par excellence the flower-
ing gums Their inflorescence is brilliant and
conspicuous.
1. MELLIODORA.
i. MACRORHYNCHAt
20c. each, $1.50 per 10
EHRETIA.
1. ACUMINATA. Small evergreen
Indian shrub, bearing small white flowers of in-
tense honey-sweet fragrance. $1.
Rare and
; little known
species.
HUPHORBIA.
1, HETEROPHYLLA.
hardy in the south. 2c.
EXACUM.
4. AFFINE. Dainty, little Gentian-
like pas with pretty marbled leaves, and deli-
cately scented purplish flowers. 25c.
ERYLHEBA.
2. ISDULIS. ‘‘Guadalupe Palm.” Of
equal decorative value to Latania borbonica.
much hardier and of far more rapid develop-
ment. Small seedlings, 20c each, $175 per 10
Fine plants, five to six leaves, $1 each, $9 per 10.
HUMEA.
1. ELEGANS. Australian Composite.
A perennial plant of great scenic value. Large
plants only 75c.
HAKEA.
1. SUAVEOLENS.; Two beantiful
1. SALIGNA. { evergreen Pro-
teaceous hrubs /The first, of distinctive merit
on account of its comb-like foliage The other,
a glory of rosy pink, large “‘pompons’”’ of flowers
through the summer. 50c.
INCARVILLEA.
8. OLGA. A dwarf Central Asian
evergreen shrub, having a prefusion of rosy
pink trumpet shaped flowers. 25c.
HYPERICUM.
3. CALYCINUM. Siberian. ‘‘St. Pe-
ih Wort.” Flowers yellow, large and showy.
Be,
LATHYRUS, F
2. SPLENDENS. A_ magnificent,
crimson flow-red per-nnial California sweet
pea. See Watson’s glowing enconiums in his
Probably
London letter to ‘Garden and Forest” vol. 7,
p. 274 50c
LOTUS.
1. JACOBEUsS. An old, but little
grown plant, worthy of very veneral culture.
Of graceful, dwarf habit, and covered all sum-
mer with intense velvety brown—almost black,
fiowers. 35c.
LUVPINDS.
1. DOUGLASIL. A shrubby, Califor-
nia species, that at the age of two years, flowers
almost coutinuously throughout the year. Meri-
torious alsu by re son of its adaptability to a i
soils and situations. 35c.
PLECTRANTHUS.
i. FRUTICOSUS. A compact an:
elegant Labiate shrub from the Cape, with blue
flowers. For pot or outdoor cuiture.
SESBANIA.
4. GRANDIFLORA ALBA.) Superb
4. GRANDIFLORA ROSEAs lega-
minous flowering shrubs. $1 each.
SUTHERLANDIA.
1. SPECTABILIS. ‘‘Searlet senna.”’
Showy leguminous shrub, free flowering habit.
50¢
SWAINSONIA.
1. GRAYANA. Pretty and well
1. FERNANDINA. | known, for flor-
ists use. 25c.
STEPHANOTIS.
1. FLORIBUNDUS. Strong plants of
this aristocratic creeper, 50c.
WIGANDIA. ;
1. CARACASANA.) Unequaled for
1. MAGNIFICA. f scenic, sub-trop-
ical gardening. 20c.
SEEDS.
(Price per pacset, 25¢; five packets for $1)
Acanthus lusitanicus
Anarrhinum algericum
Anastatica hiero hontica
Anchusa italica
Borago caucasica
Calendula officinalis fl pL
Campanula altaica
of attica
oe carpatica -
CUPRESSUS GUADALUPENSIS. The b ue
cypress, a beautiful tree.
EMMENANTHE PENDULIFLORA.
fornia Yellow Bells.”
ESC HSCHOLTZIA CALIFORNICA. The State
flower of California.
MINA LOBATA. ‘The Ala de Perico of the
Mexicans. Grow this creeper iu your window
next winter.
NOLINA BIGELOVIL A
plant »f desert regions
PAPAVER CALIFORNICUM.
nese-red Howers.
VIo!.A PEDUNCULATA. ‘the yellow Ualifor-
nian “Peach Viviet” is worthy of « trial.
YUCCA BREVIFOLIA. The “Yueca palm”
of the Mohave desert.
CHOICE BULBS AND ROOTS
AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS. The blue
Africau lily or ove flower. 50c.
AMARYLLIS BELLADONNA. Good bulbs
Me. each, $2.50 per dozen.
BOUSSINGAULITIA BASELLOIDES. The mig-
Do ette or Madeira vine is nice for indoors. We.
FREESIA REFRACPA ALBA. Se. per doz.
for large bulbs. :
HESPEROCALLIS UN“ULATA. ~ he Day
Lily of the Desert bloomed with us this season.
and we wish all our friends might have the
pleasure cf. seeing it—for it de erves ail the
praise it hax received, Bulbs 50¢ and $! each,
according to size.
HOUTTUYNIA CALIFORINCA. The Spanish
Yerba Mansa is much v lued abroad and we
would like to introdu:e it in American homes-
oe.
RICHARDIA AFRICANA. Large calla bulbs.
10 and 5c.
SELAGINELLA PILIFERA. A curious re-
surrection plant from Mexico 15e.
CALIFORNIA LILIES
California Lilies and Bulbous Plants.
Six native bu'bs with catalogue for 10c.
Address:
LYON & COBBE, Los Angeles, Calif.
* Cali-
large liliaceous
Beautiful Chi-
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