196009 Desert Magazine 1960 September

8/14/2019 196009 Desert Magazine 1960 September

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i n e of t h eOUTDOOR

SOUTHWEST

" T H E G H O S T T O W N " B Y C LY D E F O R S Y T H E ^ se e P a S e 2 )


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O N T H I S M O N T H ' S C O V E R :

The Gold Rush June cover

The Mining Camp July cover

The Mining Town August cover

The Ghost Town This month's cove

When the gold is gone the Mining Town loses its reasonfor existing. It's a simple lesson in econom ics that has dottedthe West with abandoned or nearly-abandoned settlements Ghost Towns. The roster is a long one: American Canyon,Atwood, Aurora, Aurum, Bannock and so on down the alphabet.In the following story, Clyde Forsythe relates how hebrought his Gold Strike saga to a logical conclusion with thepainting of The Ghost Town.H OW CAN WE anticipate what may result from a chancemeeting at the roadside with a total stranger? My short chatwith the shabby little prospector at the gas station at LasVegas in 1926 was the motivation for the painting of these fourpictures, each 38 x 48 inches in size.In the beginning there was to have been but one painting-"The Gold Rush"but as I have already said, that first onedemanded another"The Mining Camp"which, in turn, ledto the creation of "The Mining Tow n." I then thought that theseries was complete. But work lay ahead; 1940 had come andgone.Back in 1930, my old-time studio-mate, Norman Rockwell,had come with us from New York to work with me in my South-ern California studio. Our friend, Bill Backer, New York hotelowne r, also came along. It was his first trip to the Wild W est.To give the boys a look at something typical of the old daysthat had once been "wild," I outfitted them in Western garb,and transported them to our cabin at Big Bear Lake in my latestFranklin. From there we paid a visit to "Luc ky" B aldwin'sfamous abandoned gold mine above Baldwin Lake.The old mill and stamps were still there, and ore-cars wereon the tracks. Vand als had been at work and the ghost town of"Doble" at the foot of the mountain was about depleted.From there we rolled down the Cushenberry grade, past"Deadman's Point" to Victorville and thence north along thepower-line road to old Randsburg.We put up at the Atlas Hotel, the upper hallway of whichsagged at least six inches in the midd le. (It has c ompletelysagged now burned to the ground.) After a good dinner atone of the cafes, I wanted to get my friends into the YellowAster Mine, which was being worked by leasers. In the windowof the main saloon were the usual piles of ore sam ples. Th is wasthe place to begin.I led the way to the ore samples and we examined them withgreat interest. Here my usual good luck asserted itself. Soona tall man arose from a bottle and a poker game in the rear,and offered to be of service to the fairly well-dressed strangersin town. We could be potential investors! The man turned outto be Kent Knowlton, publisher of the weekly paper, a fellow

news paperm an. And we had a New York hotel owner as wellas a noted Saturday Evening Post artist in our partyat firstsight, good prospects.Y e s , Mr. Knowlton was an old friend of Death ValleyScotty. Ye s, he would be very glad to arrang e to get us into

continued on page 42

T H E G H O S T T O W NCLYDE FORSYTHE

T H E C O N C L U D I N G P A IN T IN G IN T H EF A M O U S " G O L D S T R IK E " S E R IE SB Y TH E DI S TI NG UI S H EDW E S T E R N A R T I S T


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POEM OF THE MONTHQUIETUDEByGRACE R. BALLARD

San ta Barba ra, CaliforniaA horned toad sunning on

a rockAppears inanimateAs lichens on grey stone Until a careless flyWith small concernComes buzzing by.A flash of flaming tonguesnaps out A sudden gulpbrief inter-lude;And once moreGrey of toad and rock dis-solveIn desert quietude.Desert Magazine pays $5 each monthfor the poem chosen by the judgesto appear in the magazine. To enterthis contest simply mail your type-written poem (must be on a desertsubject) to Poetry Contest, DesertMagazine, Palm Desert, Calif.Pleaseinclude a stamped return envelope.

HAVE FUN PANNING GOLD IN THEMANNER OF THE 49ERS

8 oz. of ready-to-pan ore f rom the famousRose Quartz Mine, pan, panning instruc-tions and book let , "How to Prospect forGold . " Only $2 postpaid.ORDER FROM:

ROSE QUARTZ DP.O. Box 5006San Diego 5, Calif.

Volume23

Number~7)iAinL- m a g a z i n e of the O u t d o o r S o u t h w e s t -CHARLES E. SHELTONpublisher

EUGENE L. CONROTTOeditor EVONNE RIDDELLcirculation man ager

Contents fo rSep tember , I960C O V E R

B A C K G R O U N D 2T R A V E L 6

N A T U R E 10P E T S 12

H I S T O R Y 15G A R D E N I N G 19

P H O T O G R A P H Y 22G E M S - M I N E R A L S 24

B A J A C A L I F . 32

"The Ghost Town"concluding panel in artist ClydeForsythe's four-part "Gold Strike" seriesThe story behind the coverWhite Mountain WonderlandWestern Red-Tailed HawkA New Horse for CleisThe Swap for Thousand PalmsCactus PropagationCactus Close-UpsColorado Desert Field TripsA Guide to the Missions

also

C lyde ForsytheC. N. Ferguson

Edmund C. JaegerEd Ellinger

P aul W ilhelmLadislaus Cutak

James TallonGlen &Martha Vargas

Helen DuShane

Poem of the Month: 3Letters: 4 31. NewBooks

News Briefs: 5 40: NewMexico Travel: RioGrande LoopUtah TravelKanab: 27 41: Editorial

The Desert Magazine, founded in 1937 by Randall Henderson, is published monthlyby Desert Magazine, Inc., Palm Desert, Ca lifo rnia . Re-entered as second classmatter July 17, 1948, at the postoffice at Palm Desert, California, under the Actof March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U.S. Patent Office, and contentscopyrighted 1960 by Desert Magazine, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents mustbe secured from the editor in writ ing.

Unsolicited manuscripts andphotographs submitted can-no t be returned or acknowl-edged unless full returnpostage is enclosed. DesertMagazine assumes no re-sponsibility for damage orloss of manuscripts or pho-tographs although due carewill be exercised. Subscribersshould send notice of changeof address by the f irst ofthe month preceding issue.

Address all editorial andcirculation correspondence toDesert Magazine, Palm Des-ert, California.

Address all advertis ingcorrespondence to Edith K.Whaley, 216 South Vermont,Los Angeles, California.

SUBSCRIBE M , ^TO J\

One Year-$4(Canadian subscriptionsSEND DESERT MAGAZINE

(mailing address)(city, state)

or let usgt ^^^f send it to a f r iendnfJgMwmrwkt Three Years -$ 10.5025c extra, foreign 50c extra per year) |TO:

If this is a gift, indicate how gift card should be s igned:Mail this information andPalm Desert, California. your remittance to: Desert Magazine,

September, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 3


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HIDDEN TREASURESCOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS METALS with t h l Fumoui M odt t27 Matol D . I .do r. L igh tweigh t , u l t ra-niu i t l v t , lowcast. No n. fin .r. Also GEICER COUNTESS for uraniwand the VIOUTE foe tungiten. INFORMAT ION HtEC >

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domhion


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SOUTHWEST NEWS BRIEFSJ A new scenic route to the SouthRim of Grand Canyon has been_ opened by the Ari-N e w R o u te to Z Q n a H i g h w a y De_South Him partmentand Flag-staff is now stealing some of the"Gateway to Grand Canyon" thun-der hitherto the property of the Wil-liams and Cameron chambers ofcommerce. The new state routeArizona 164 leads from Flagstaffnorthwest along the foothills of theSan Francisco Peaks through thethick pines of Coconino National For-est. The highway connects with theGrand Canyon to Williams link atValle Airport. For Highway 66 trav-elers from the East bound for theSouth Rim, the new highway willsave about nine miles.

Mine TownDoomed


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Z h eW H I T E M O U N T A I N A P A C H E S

I n v i t e y o uH ere's the story of c o o l , c l e an, unc r o w de d A pac he l and,whose magnificent mill ion acres in eastcentral Arizonaa re now at the d i s p o s a l of So uthw e st c ampe r s, thanksto the Tribal C ouncil's enlightened po licy on tourism. By H. N. FERGUSON

[W VA S T F R O N T I E R S are scarcethese days, and getting scarcer.As our wide-open spaces continueto dwindle, the crowded conditions inNational Parks and at most well-known scenic spots are influencingmany families to take a fling at camp-ing in the nation's less frequentedareas.Heading the list of likely locationswith plenty of elbow room for a mem-orable summer vacation is a South-western camping region which will de-

light any family: Apacheland thestoried Indian Territory of frontierhistory the real uncommercializedarticle.The White Mountain Apaches,whose ancestors turned the entireSouthwest upside down with theirbloody raids, are opening up their vastreservation to pale-face visitors. Theyare inviting white families to camp intheir mountain fastness, which con-tains some of the most breathtakingscenery in the United States.The area occupies 2600 square milesin eastern Arizona about midway, ona straight line, between Phoenix andAlbuquerque. Climate and topographyof the reservation ranges from semi-desert to sub-alpine, with elevationsfrom 2700 feet above-sea-level onlower Salt River to over 11,000 feeton Mt. Baldy, located on the easternreservation boundary where deep snowbanks often remain the year-round.Along 300 miles of rivers and streamsan d on the shores of their two dozenlakes, the Indians have built some 650campsites complete with plank tablesand benches, fireplaces and sanitaryfacilities; they're even providing fire-wood and there is no charge for

A MORE THAN 300 MILES OF WELL-STOCKED TROUT\ J ST REAMS LURE ANGLERS TO APACHE RESERVATION


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camping! At some spots the Apacheshave erected log cabins which theyrent to sportsmen who want to fish thefinest trout streams in Arizona or huntelk, bear, javelina and wildfowl.Apache fees for hunting and fishingprivileges are very reasonable: fishing

60c for the first day, 30c a daythereafter; hunting permits vary from$2 to $15, depending on the game.The Tribal Council uses all such feesto improve reservation facilities forvisitors.For those who want to view one ofthe largest unspoiled beauty spots inNorth America without roughing it,the Apaches have constructed a luxuri-ous motel at Indian Pine Junctionwhere Highways 73 and 173 converge.It is called Hon-Dah, which is Apachefor "Be My Guest." Everywh ere thetribesmen are making sure that theirforests are safe for cam pers. Indian -built trails and recreation roads lead inall directions, with hundreds of direc-tional signs erected for the traveler'sconvenience. Copper-skinned braves,traveling in four-wheel-drive vehicles,are constantly on the alert to give first-aid or to repair broken-down autos.Trained young Apache game wardenspatrol the length and breadth of thereservation to direct and assist visitorsand sportsmen."Bring your kids," invite the red

men. "W e'll show little paleface brav eshow to hunt and fish the Indian way."For the traveler who has been driv-ing through the sign-spattered worldof snake farms, "trading posts," gilamonster exhibits and giant malts, it isa welcome respite to enter the beautifulhigh country of Ap achelan d. You passby authentic and functional Apachewickiups and brush-houses clusteredaround windmills pumping the preci-ous water which means life for thesecattlemen-farmers. You probably willbe amazed as I was to see herds of

sleek Hereford cattle, vast peach orch-ards and expansive logging operationshere literally in th e m iddle of n o-where. These enterprisesplus tou r-ismare helping to raise the Indians'standard of living.True, you can see cattle, peachesand lumber trucks almost any place,but here you are also likely to see aherd of wild horses galloping througha spectac ular valley far below. An dsuddenly the realization comes thatthis is a lush other-world oasis in theunspoiled loneliness of sweeping des-

ert and tumb led mountains. Its peopleadd to this feeling that here is some-thing special.Lydo Harvey, 34, is chief of thetribal wardens . He is a quiet-spokenand well-mannered full-blood Apache

Indian, and has served as a warden formore than eight years. His grand-father, Baha Alchesay, was the last ofthe hereditary Tribal Chieftains. Lydo'snatural abilities as a tracker, his vastknowledge of the remote areas, andhis other outstanding qualificationshave gained him high respect fromIndians and whites alike. He recentlyspent many hours tracking a lostwoman and boy in the roadless Baldyarea, and brought them out safe andsoun d. To Ly do , this is all in a day'swork.

Lou Evanoff, his wife Marge, andsix young Apache attendants welcomethe guests at Hon-Dah and see to theirevery need when they stay in the wide-ly-spaced modern cabins. Billy Kane,another Apache, operates a completegrocery store, garage, tackle store and

trailer park across the highway atApache Indian Pine. Cliff and Lor-raine Jones, with the help of a crewof competent Indians, operate theTribe's newest and most extensive re-sort area at Hawley Lake. A Lag unaIndian, Andy Kayona, works harmoni-ously with his Apache helpers in theoperation of a modern service stationand curio store at Carrizo Junction.

It is interesting to hear the tradi-tional Apache names such as Baha,Cosay, Altaha and Kessay and thenmeet full-blood Apaches named Riley,Johnson and Harvey. These lat ternames were adopted from early daytroopers stationed at Fort Apache andothers who won the respect of thevarious clans. But, whether it be Bahaor Riley, these people are worth know-ing they are the added spice that

FDRT F1PFICHEINDIFIN RE5ERVFITIDN(EASTERN SECTION)

LEGENDCam ping Areas :::Ranger S ta t ionsond Lookouts a

Roods: P av ed - Improved


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makes these mountains a never-to-be-forgotten vacation site.Nelson Lupe, former chairman ofthe Tribal Council and present headof the Recreation Board, is creditedwith doing most of the spade work inconvincing the Indians that the recrea-t ion development program would be a

wise move for the Ap ache s. JimSparks, general manager of the WhiteMountain Recreat ion Enterprise, is aformer state president of the ArizonaGame Protective Association and haslong been active in recreational re-source development and other conser-vation prog rams. Jim is one of the

-&

NEW FACE OF APACHELAND: T WO SMILINGAPACHE BOYS REFLECT THE MARK ED C HANC EIN ATTITUDE TOWARD VISITORS THAT HASTAK EN PLACE IN RELATIVELY FEW YEARSbrightest stars in Arizona's outdoorrecreation picture.

Whiteriver, south from McNary onState Highway 73, is the agency town,trading center and hub of the FortAp ache Reserv ation. It is worthy ofa visit just to get a new perspectiveon this vigorous tribe. Th e name thatonce struck terror into the hearts ofthe white man now stands for finecattle and good conservation practicesin grazing and forest lan ds. It is abalm to the conscience to learn thatthese Indians, from whom we tooksome of nature's loveliest forest andhunting and fishing country, receivesomething for every tree cut and forevery fish or animal now hunted ontheir property. Having adapted thehard way to their conquerors, theApaches are definitely not among the"vanishing" peoples.

There are many ruins and historicalpoints to be visited on the reservation.Kinishba, "The Brown House of LongAg o," is a must on the itinerary. Lo -cated eight miles southwest of White-river, this prehistoric ruin has beendeftly resurrected by Dr. Byron Cum-mings, "De an of the Sou thwest." Dr .Cummings has determined that Kin-ishba was occupied from 1050 to 1350A.D.At the juncture of the East andAPACHE HOSTS HAVE PROVIDED MORE/ l T H A N 650 WELL-EQUIPPED CAMPING SITESV F O R T HEIR GUESTS - AT NO CHARGE


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North forks of the White River standsFort Apache, the first military fortestablished on the reserv ation . In itsday the Fort was a large cavalry andinfantry post. Gene ral Cro ok's logcabin home remains intact. The entireofficers' row is still in use as is the oldPost Headquartersbut not by themilitary. The parade ground wheretroopers once carried on "monkeydrill" is now a football field for theTheodore Roosevelt Boarding School ,whose pupils occupy the old fort.

I had fun tracing a vestige of theold telegraph line that was once strungon iron posts from the railhead at Hol-brook to Fort Bowie. You can alsosee remains of the military road whichconnected Fort Apache and FortThomas; the deep ruts cut in solid rockat the Black River crossing have with-stood the ravages of time, and speakeloquent testimonial to the Army'shard role in taming this remote andrugged wilderness.

Every member of the family canfind something of interest in Apache-land. As part of their holiday, chil-dren get a glimpse into a differentworld and painlessly spend some hoursin "school" without even realizing theyare receiving valuable on-the-spot les-sons in history. The y will get a specialtreat out of a trip on the Apache Rail-road, which provides excursion rides

from Maverick to McNary with achance to view the huge logging oper-ations on the reservation.Primary function of the 60-mile-long Apache Railroad is to haul logsfrom the high country to the hungrymill at M cN ary. Th e line is ownedand operated by the Southwest LumberCompany, and there are no schedulesas such. How ever, passage on thetrain can be arranged by contactingthe Lumber Company offices in Mc-Nary.Once each fall (Labor Day) thelogs are forgotten and the open carsare fitted with seats and benches toafford an open-air platform for thevisitors who take this special trip. Afee of approximately $5 pays for hoursof enjoyment on the ride where eachcurve in the rails opens up a new vista

of breathtaking beauty. Wild turkey,antelope, deer, elk and many otherforms of wildlife are frequently seenon the trip. The train stops at middayfor a delicious lunch prepared underthe tall pines.Outdoor recreation opportunities onthe reservation are virtually unlimited.Hunting, fishing, hiking, horsebackriding, swimming, golf and tennis arepop ular pastimes for the visitor. Amovie is shown once a week at AgencyHeadquarters. Telephone service at

Whiteriver and Fort Apache is avail-able during the daytime and suchlimited service can be a blessing tothose with jangled nerves.You will be doing yourself an in-justice if you institute a rigidly plannedprogram of sightseeing. There shouldbe a minimum of regimentation, for atany turn in the trail you may havethe eminently satisfying experience ofwatching a beaver at work, a turkeyhen instructing her young, or be fas-cinated by the play of sunlight on awayside pool. Any one of experiencessuch as these may delay you for anhour or a week, and thus throw anytightly-knit schedule out of kelter.Every road, whether paved or im-proved, is an invitation to adventure,to peace, to air laced with forest fra-grance.Your visit will be more memorableif you study your map just enoughto arrive at the reserv ation . Then letdips of the terrain, the shape and colorof flowers, the glint of sunlight on abriefly revealed trout order the way ofyour going. All 1,664,872 acres ofpeaks and valleys, spreads of lengthymeadow, every little town and nestledlodge extends an invitation to enjoyfor a few days an exciting way of lifewhich is fast becoming foreign to mostAmer icans . / / /


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W E S T E R N R E D - T A I L E D H A W KBy EDMUND C. JAEGER, D.Sc.

author of " D E S E R T W I L D F L O W E R S , " " T H E C AL IF O R N I A D E S E R T S ,"" O U R D E S E R T N E I G H B O R S ," " T H E N O R T H A M E R IC A N D E S E R T S "

MONG THE MOST common of the large birds ofprey winging their way or soaring in the desert'sskies of blue, is the western red-tailed hawk (Buteoperhaps more properly called a buzzardechnically it is not a true haw k. Th is bird is one ofButeos (pronounced BOO-te-ohs) . I l ikef applied to this hawk for itemp hasize its size and dignity. Bu teo is the

Buteo desertorum of Arabia.Western red-tails may seem unusually obvious

The broad wings, the wide fan-shaped

above and in the normal adultthere is a broad reddish-brownchestband. The similar-sizedmarsh hawk has a conspicu-ous white patch on the rumpan d' has d istinctive ba rs onthe underside of the tail.Watching the tail markingsthus becomes an observa-tion early to be madewhen one wishes to iden-tify large hawks of thedesert area.During the spring of1 9 3 0 , while exploring a regionof unusually large granite rocks, I spied high on a shelvingledge an exceedingly large nest made of creosote bushbran che s. It was at least five-feet bro ad by two-feet high.Almost every year since I have returned to this site, andhave found that this nest has been occupied by a pair ofnesting eagles or red-tails. Eac h pair of birds has ad deda few sticks until now the nest is one of the largest andbulkiest of which I can find record. Las t May I noticed ,as I rather expected, an ornament of new green twigs aboutthe upper rim of the nest structure; I knew immediately

tha,t it was stake d out for use . Patiently watc hing, I finallysaw one of the builders come in with a green-leafed branch-let and lay it on the edge of the nest. Th is red-tail was sodark tha t I almost took it to be a raven . One of the ladswho was with me thought it would be easy to climb upto the aerie and see if there were eggs, but without ropesto enable him to descend from above, he found it wholly

impossible to get to a position where he could peer intothe nest. The site had indeed been wisely chosen.When some weeks later we saw the red-tail female atthe nest, and witnessed her body repeatedly rising andlowering as on a pivot, we felt certain that she was feedingher young and that her motions indicated that she wastearing up food, perhaps a rabbit or a snake, for her young.She was so intent in her duties that althoughwe approached to within 100 feet, shenever noticed us. Luckily for her wewere only observant friends and notgunmen looking for an easy target.

At another time when we saw thefemale red-tail soar toward the nest, hersharp eyes spied us, and, wary birdthat she was, she hastily departed,probably to some high point where shecould watch us undetec ted. We waitedin vain for her return.Another substantial red-tail nest Ihave often visited is embraced by fourupward-pointing arms at the top of thetallest-stemmed tree-yucca I have everseen on all of my many Mojave Deserttravels. Th is nest, at least 25 feet fromthe ground and perhaps 25 or more yearsold, has been occupied, as far as I know,alternately through the years by nesting ravens,western horned owls and red-tailed hawks.

Sometimes the red-tails build in the desert'stall ironwood trees, at the top of dead palms andeven high up in the embrace of thorny ocotillo stems.Willow and cottonwood trees along the desert's fewstream s are also utilized as nesting sites. In A rizon aand northern Sonora I see this bird's bulky nestsmounted among closely set terminal branches ofsaguaros and organ-pipe cacti, and in Baja**** Califo rnia in bra nc hin g cirios and car do ns ,every one in a place well calculated to foilthe most inquisitive climber. Tw ice, years ago,I came upon the beginning of red-tail nests at ornear the top of towers carrying electric power lines. Pow erline inspectors, realizing the menace of hawks in causingshortages on the lines, discourage the birds by early tear-ing down the nests.

One of the thrills of the bird-watcher is to see one ofthese adept flying raptores high in the air carrying a largeviolently-twisting snake trying desperately to free itself fromthe grip of the bird's strong talons. Und er these c ircum-stances the flight, while artful is "heavy," slow and oftendifficult, but the bird is equal to its task and I doubt if thesnake's best efforts to free itself are ever successful.A red-tail which I saw flying above a dry lake insouthern Nevada was carrying a snake (probably a gophersnake) which was at least five feet long, yet the bird wasable to mount to heights where it was almost out of sight.Indeed, my eight-power binoculars were needed to trace


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the red-tail 's course. When last I sawit , the hawk must have been at leasta third of a mile above me and drift-ing to the east. It was a hot summermorning and the strong up-draft abovethe glaring salt- and clay-crusted playaprobably aided considerably in bearingthe bird aloft. M erria m Bailey in herBirds of New Mexico quotes a Mr.Jensen who gave this graphic descrip-tion of a red-tail capturing a rattle-snake: "A few miles west of SantaFe, the road follows for several milesthe bottom of a narrow valley fringedwith rimrocks on the south side . . .Scanning the rocks through my fieldglasses I discovered a male red-tailsitting on a crag. While I was watch-ing the bird, it suddenly dropped downto the base of the cliff, and I couldsee a fierce struggle taking place. Iwas not near enough to see what actu-ally happened, but I could often seethe wings of the hawk raised abovethe intervening low sagebrush andjudge that the bird was continuallychanging position. I hurried as fast asI could towards the spot, and when Iwas about 50 feet away, the hawk tookflight carrying in its talons a medium-sized rattlesnake."

A ground squirrel I once saw wassurprised while sitting on the top ofa bladder-pod bush which he was usingas a lookout post . The hawk camedown upon it almost with the speedof an arrow, striking the groundsquirrel on the head. The rodent fellstraightway to the ground. The birdflew up, then descended, gave a cut-ting blow to the squirrel with its beak,and straightway carried it off in thetight grasp of its talons. It was, I dare-say, a time of tense moments for thehungry hawk, but I do not think thesquirrel ever knew what happenedit was a knock-out blow all too quickfor reaction on the part of the victim.

The male red-tail is considerablysmaller than his mate, 20 inches beingan average length while the heavierfemale may measure up to 25 inches.Mating takes place early in the season.After the nest has been readied, theeggs, generally two, sometimes threeor four in number, are laid. The shellis a dreary dull-white with sometimesa few markings of dull grayish-brown,or with extensive blotches of severalshades of darker brown. The incuba-tion period is about four weeks. Bothsexes engage in seeing to it that theeggs are kept warm; furthermore theyshare in the care and feeding of theyoung which stay in the nest nearlysix weeks.

I once found a nest with newly-hatched young situated on a shelf ofa clay-and-conglomerate cliff of a boxcanyon. The site was such that I could

look down across the gorge right intothe nest. Well I could see the activi-ties of the nestlings. At first the hawk-lets were covered with a long buffy tograyish-brown soft silk down abouta half-inch long. After 18 days I couldsee with aid of my field glasses thatquills were beginning to appear on thechicks; next came the large tail feath-ers; and by the end of four weeks myyoung friends were nearly full feath-ered, full grown and ready to leave thenest. They were always a clamorouslot, incessantly mak ing a series of weaksqueaky or peeping notes, markedly,louder when the parent birds ap-proached with food. At such a timethere was much stretching of necksand raising of heads. When one ofthe young birds died (perhaps of star-vation or injury) it was promptlythrown from the nest.

When out on their venatic exploits,red-tails often soar in circles or slowlyflap in almost straight lines at consid-erable heights. Their eyesight is ex-ceedingly keen, enabling them to de-tect from lofty positions moving objectsas small as a mouse. Once the intendedprey has been spotted and venturesto o far from adequate shelter, the birdplunges close-winged with great speedand directness to pick up its quarry.At other times while hunting it sailslow to the ground, slowly scrutinizingthe brush for any moving object. Orit may merely sit on some high pointof vantage such as a rock pinnacle,tall saguaro or ironwood tree, seem-ingly taking little interest in the sur-roundings but in actuality scanning theground with keen interest. Fro m sucha perch it can quickly descend on anycreature it may see.

During the nesting season the birdsengage in marvelous flight maneuvers,often soaring in great circles whilecrossing and recrossing each other'spaths; sometimes they seem almost totouch one another. Higher and higherthey go until they are almost out-of-sight. At times at these dizzy heightsthey half-close their wings and makedaring dives, checking their bullet-likespeed only when within a few feet ofthe ground.Most small birds and even most ofthe larger ones, show complete indiffer-ence to the presence of red-tails. Ihave seen birds as small as fly-catchersbravely mob one of these hawks andfly menacingly about it; the indifferentold hawk completely ignoring their

earnest anger. If occasionally smallbirds are taken, it is because of ex-

t reme pressure for food during thetime of rearing the ever-hungry young.I t is believed that ground squirrelsform, when possible, a very substantial,if not the main port ion of the red-tail 'sdiet. They are among the most com-mon diurnally - active rodents, almostalways plentiful. Red -tails are indeed"veritable factories" for the destruc-tion of rodents; they have been knownto kill as many as six large groundsquirrels in a day. If there is any largepopulat ion of ground squirrels in anyarea it probably means that most ofthe coyotes and hawks have beenkilled by ranchers and hunters whofind the large birds a fairly easy target.California legislators wisely placed allhawks and owls on the protected listof birds. No longer do they brigadethe large hawks under the opprobriousname of "chicken-hawks."If taken young before fully feath-ered, most hawks make interesting in-structive pets. The younger they areprocured the better. When well ableto fend for themselves, they shouldbe turned loose to enjoy their freedom.

T H E A U T H O R S T A N D S N E X T TO A TALL-STEMMEDT RE E Y U C C A W H I C H C O N T A I N S IN EMBRACE OFI TS BRANCHES A RED-TAILED HAWK 'S NEST


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A L I T T L E G I R L ' S B I G W I S HB y E D E L L I M E R

Cleis O'B ryne Co burn is 10. She lives in Sedona, Arizona .Ever since she was four or m aybe thre e-and -a-half she has hadbu t one dream to own a horse of her own. H er dad, BillCoburn had made her a promise, redeemable on her 10th birth-day or shortly thereafter. You can guess wh at it was. Well anyw ay, to make a long waiting period short thefinal day arrived. To Bill it seemed like no time at all; toCleis, an eternity. But Bill made the promise in good faithand off they went horse shopping in Scottsdale, just north ofPhoen ix. Th ey answered ads and covered ma ny a stable andpasture, but somehow no thing quite did the trick. They sawsome pretty nice horses, but Cleis had some definite ideas ofwha t she wan ted. On the third day it happenedCleis hadher first glimpse of Flaxen Yasha, a four-ye ar-old thre e-quar terbred Arabian ma re. It was love at first sight, but there was afly in the oin tm ent , a big nasty one the price. Besides herperfect conformation, Yasha was sired by Skorage, a famousArabian owned by the Brusally Ran ch. One doesn't get a horselike Yasha with green stamps. The Coburn s, father anddaugh ter, beat an unhap py re treat to Sedona. Cleis was heart-broken and Bill watched her out of the corner of his eye. Shewould go out to the corral to feed the old horses she had learnedto ride on, bu t somehow her heart wasn't in it. Altho ugh Cleissaid little, heart-strings can play sad melodies which a sensitivefather .canno t wi thstan d. Bill made the necessary phonecall and Yasha was soon on her way to Sedona. SinceYasha's arrival on the scene Cleis has thought of little else.Fo rtun ately her grades have not suffered. She still plays heraccordion, but w ith subdued enthusiasm. Yasha is the focalpoin t of her small world. Shortly after daw n Cleis is up ,dressed and out in the corral, pockets stuffed with carrots.Yasha follows her little mistress around like a puppy dog. Cleistakes care of all the chores herself which include securing thefelt bareback pad when she is ready for a ride. Stirrups? Ofcourse no t. To see them off together on their morn ingjaunts through the red hills is a sight one doesn't forget toosoon. Cleis is fearless. Her fa ith in Yasha is com plete. Yasharesponds with the eloquent grace one might expect of anArabian. H er steps are dain ty; her gaits rythmic and beauti-fully coord inated. The re is a strong bond between little girland big horse. This is a friendship destined to last and growstronger through the years. continued


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M E S T R U E C l e i s C o b u r n o f S e d o n ar e c e iv e s $ 1 O - y e $ r - o l d ' s d m mb i r t h d a y p r e s e n t : $ h o r s e .


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L I T T L E G I R L ' S B I G W I S H . . . continued

ABOVE Out for a morning ride."Cleis is fearless. Herfaith in Yasha is complete."UPPER RIGHTOne day Yashabroke out of her corraland bruised her left shoulder.Cleis doctored the woundand showered Yashawith love and affection.R I GHTGood grooming isimportant. Cleiscombs Yasha's forelock.


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A F A M O U SD E S E R T S W A P.. . h o w L o u i s W i l h e l mt r a d e d a s p a n o f m u l e s a n da w a g o n f o r t h eT h o u s a n d P a l m s O a s i s . . .

P A U L I V I L H E I Mthrough the eyes of his eldest brother, Louis,Jr., who accompanied his father on the 1905trek to the oasis)

A S DAD PUSHED the two big mules deeper into thesuffocating August heat of the Colorado Desert ofSouthern California, the hills around us looked tomy fifteen-year-old eyes like bleac hed cow bone s. Sittingbeside me on the wagon seat, Dad was short-tempered withthe mules.But, in 1905 everyone's nerves were jangled in thispart of the countryyears of drouth when cattle andhorses lay dead in burnt-out pastures over which buzzardswheeled in rainless skies.Only two weeks before I had sat with Dad on thecorral gate at our Hemet Valley ranch listening to oldTom Acres, one-time prospector and now Dad's foreman,issue his tenth warning : "I tell you, Wilhelm, you've got

T H E T H O U S A N D P A L M S O A S I S



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lilac and I felt again the immensity of the desert beyond.But in the heart of the oasis there was a feeling of warmthand security."The days of sun and dust were worth it, Louis ," Iheard Dad say. Then he clucked to the mules. We woundout upon the grass meadow beneath the bluff. A lightgleamed in the thatch huta very homey sight . Dad droveclose by the rude hovel and cried out in a voice so loudit filled the valley with echoes. A man's bearded faceinquiringly poked out."Alkali Al Thornburg!" Dad cried in astonishment.He reined in the team and sat staring as Thornburg cameup to the wagon.Standing there before us, Alkali Al made both Dadan d me feel unkempt and dusty. His porcelain features,delicate skin and groomed black walrus moustache werenot blemished by his 65 years nor by the desert winds. Helooked like Bill Cody. He ran his searching gray-blue eyesover the buckboard, the two mules and their new leatherharness."A fine span of mules you have there, Wilhelm," hedeclar ed. Still roo ted to the buckboard seat, Dad spentan awkward moment; he usually wasn't at a loss for words .Meanwhile Thornburg came forward. "And I know stock,"he said, running a hand down a mule's withers. Suddenlyhe looked up, leveled his gaze."Wha t do you say, you Lucky Dutchman, to tradingevenyour team and wagon, which I'd say is worth $300,for mydesert oasis?"Dad laughed outright . "Three hundred !" he snorted."This outfit is worth more than $500!" Yet Dad couldn'tresist green growing things and spring water; besides, hisstock needed plenty of green grass. "How much landhave you?" he asked."Eighty acres," Thornburg replied, and drew from hispocket what turned out to be the original deed, completewith Theodore Roosevelt 's signature. He held it up inplain sight for Dad to see."Does it include this big palm grove, the springs, thegrass?""All in the 80 acres."Dad climbed from the wagon and stood before Thorn-burg, sizing him up. "Jus t how did you acquire it?" heasked."Homesteaded it." Then he waved an abrupt hand

and smiled, "But unhitch your team, tether them in themeadow, and bathe at the springs. I've just put supperon the stove." With that he turned on his heels anddisappeared into the door of the hut.We secured the team with stout ropes, and I followedDad to the springs where a clear pool received our dustybodies."All my life I've dreamed of such a place," Dad said.When we entered the hut Thornburg handed each of usa glass of water with minute hairy seeds floating on thesurface. "A drink made from the chia plant," he said."The Indians taught me how to make it." It tasted alittle of cinnamon and lemon.Thornburg hovered over a tin wood-stove. A kerosenelantern hung from a cord in the rafters. Soon we sat downto a table spread with earthen plates. Tho rnbu rg dealt outsavory foods from heavy pottery bowls. Snow white po-tatoes, whipped smooth, topped with chopped onions;

LOUIS WILHELM, SR., LEFT, AND TOM ACRES, FOREMAN OF THE WILHELMSTOCK RANCH, FUN K A MULE THAT HELPED PAY FOR A DESERT OAS IS

young rabbit cobbler; and as a gesture of "deep friendship"and "long business dealings" with Dad, he presented apa n of gold-crusted biscuits, hot from the oven, "notequaled anywhere, even by your gold-crazy foreman, TomAcres ."Dad, pleasantly relaxed, turned to Alkali Al andasked why he had come to this isolated location in thefirst place? "For the peace and quiet," he answered. Thissent Dad into peals of laughter. Whereupon Thornburgcrimsoned, recovered and came to his own defense. "Evena horse trader might want peace and quiet," he said bluntly.Then he told us: "It was four years ago I went look-ing for the Lost Pegleg Mine. You've heard of i tprob-ably been out looking for it yourself." He gave me a wink."I found this valley on one such excursion, took out firstpapers and came here three months a year. Not an easything. I'd ride by train to the Palm Springs depot, walkto the village, rent two donkeys from the Indians, andwalk the 15 miles east across dunes to this oasis in thehills. Once, old Tom Acres wandered in, almost over-come from thirst."After three months of silenceI never could standtoo much silenceI'd take the train back to Los Angelesand walk through each pullman trying to auction theoasis to Easterners. They scoffed at me. Sick as I wasof the homestead, I couldn't give it away. And now youturn up."Dad changed the subject. "H ave Indians come heresince your sojourn?" as asked."A few,mostly migratory clans from reservations south.They stay during the ripening of mesquite beans, chia and



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Alkali Al left the table, dug into a corner cupboard,olla filled with pinyon nuts.of present is left each time they com e." H eolla to Dad, and then to me.

"And you," Dad asked, munching the savory meats,Tho rnburg 's eyes twinkled. "Som etimes," he said. "A

is han dy. Onc e I left an old Winches ter rifle and fourpicked clean by coyotes. The Indians

As Thornburg placed Ms third plate of biscuits on thele of old sauterne wine. With great pomp he crackedseal and drew the cork. While Thornb urg poured rich

"A toast," said Dad, as he sniffed the bouquet, "to: 80 acres of desert for a buck board and a spanAs the men drank slowly, I slipped onto a couch andthe warmth of the room soak into me. Outside the

A state of well-being stole over me . As It to the pan of biscuits on the table. Then

At dawn we began the trip to the county seat ato consum mate the trade . Thre e days later,

turned to Dad and said, "Why did you want that land somuch? You m ust have, you know , to trade it for suchvaluable pro perty."Da d glanced at his friend. "Besides the green grass,for the same reason you wanted itthe peace and quiet,"he said.Alkali Al rubbed his chin. "I know a trade when I

see it."We turned down Lemon Street and headed for thelivery stables. "Someday the desert will come into its ow n,"Dad said. "No other place possesses such a natura l charmas does that oasis. It 's a strange thing, it draws on e to it."Tho rnburg 's eyes were dim. "Perh aps I should n't havelet it go so easily ," he said. "Pe rha ps that oasis . . . well,not in my time."As we entered the cool darkness of the stables bothmen were silent. W as it that they were experiencing thevision that suddenly filled my minda lost oasis rimmedwith golden hills filled with whispering palms, song of birdsand the drowsy murmur of water?Both men sighed, but not, I was certain, for the samereasons.You are welcome to visit Thousand Palms Oasis.There are areas for camping, picnicking and parking smallhouse trailers (no charge), but oftimes space is limitedbecause of the many Scout groups, and biology, zoologyand anthropology field classes who come here in the winterseason. The area is off-limits during summer months.Write to Paul Wilhelm, Thousand Palms, Calif., for camp-ing information.In addition to the native palm groves, Thousand PalmsOasis offers spring water and flora and fauna typical ofluxuria nt desert oases. Als o of interest is the evidence of

former Indian occupancy including ancient trails throughthe foothills, and cam p- and housesites. / / /

S ^>^

000 PALMS 04SIS _J!e=a^=?J&

To 1000 PALMSVILLAGEELCeNTRO.


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T H E C A C T U S G A R D E N E RL E A R N S P R O P A G A T I O NM y L a d i s l a u s C u t a k

T he Missouri Botanical G ardens' C actus E xpert

A L L C A C T I CANbe grown from seed,although in many casesit takes a long time forthe plants to reach ma-turity. Many cacti pro-duce numerous tiny off-shoots along their stemswhich can be removedand grown into healthyi nd i v i dua l spec i mens .P r o p a g a t i o n of cactialso can be accom-plished by cutting offany portion of the stemwith a sharp clean knife, allowing the incision to heal, andthen placing the cut-off section in a sandbox for rooting.Grafting is a third way to increase stock.

Even though a great deal of patience is required forseed culture, it is a very rewarding way of collecting cacti.To the hobbyist it will prove to be the cheapest means ofacquiring a large collection of commendable species (it issurprising how many hundreds of seedlings can be grownin a window-box) . And seedlings provide the hobbyistwith a source of material to trade to other enthusiasts.Seedlings also are useful to plant in novelty containers,an d for study.

Cacti seed usually can be bought at nominal cost fromregular seed outlets. If greenhouse culture can be giventhe new plants, it doesn't matter when the seeds are putdown, but in the home sans greenhouse, seed sowing canbegin after the middle of April and continue through thesummer season. For best results, a uniform temperatureof at least 70 degrees and no higher than 90 degrees shouldbe maintained around the seed pans.

Cacti seeds vary in size, and they should be separatedaccordingly and sown in separate pans or pots. Any con-tainer which drains freely can be used for seed cultureordinary flower pots are very satisfactory. Thorou gh drain-age should be provided in the bottom of the seed pan in theform of a generous supply of potsherds or gravel. Basesoil should be sifted atop the gravel to within an inch ofth e top of the container. Any good porous soil will do,especially if it contains a mixture of screened sand, well-rotted leafmold and garden loam, in equal proport ions.Beware of using soil that has a clay base, for it will not drainreadily.Before sowing the seed, firm the soil with a smallwooden tampe r. Fine seed need only be broadcast , but

For ladislaus Cutak's introduction to the cactus hobby"Cactus Gardening for the Beginner"see last month's Desert

the larger seed, such as those of Opuntias, should bespaced in rows to give each seedling a chance to developafter germination. The seeds should be lightly coveredwith soil, and I have found it practical to add atop this alight covering of very fine gravel. This acts as a protectiveblanket against too rapid evaporation of soil moisture, andalso provides support for the tiny plants.After the seed is sown, the soil must be watered. Thisis best done by placing the seed vessel in a pan of waterto allow the moisture to seep up through the drainageholes. The reason I do not recommend watering from theto p is that there is great danger the seeds will be floatedaway or bunched up. However, if a very gentle misty sprayca n be created, an overhead watering method can be usedwithout ill effect.Keep the seed pan moist, but not soaking wet. Neverallow the seed pan to dry out. A simple watering by im-mersion will usually last five to 10 days.After the seed pans have been moistened, let excesswater drain off, then place a panel of colored glass overthe pans and set them out in a well-lighted position in thegreenhouse, in the window, or under a fluorescent light.The glass lid helps to maintain an even temperature onthe seed bed, and prevents the soil from drying out toorapidly. Later, it will shield the seedlings from the directrays of the sun. Since fresh air prevents the spread offungus, it is important to remove the glass cover for atleast an hour each day.As a rule, cactus seeds begin to germinate within afortnight, but in some instances it takes longer. If thereis no sign of germination after three months, however,discard the seed pan.In cactus culture, early transplanting is not necessaryunless the tiny seedlings begin to crowd each other. Theplantlets may be transplanted into flats or larger pots, butcare must be taken not to injure the fine roots. Keep thenewly-transplanted seedlings in a shady location for a fewdays before subjecting them to strong sunlight. Avoidfrequent shifting or transplanting, and be sure to use muchsmaller pots than would ordinarily be used for other plants.Cacti propagate readily by means of cuttings. Almostany portion of a cactus stem can be cut off, left to heal,and then induced to produce newgrowth. All cuttings witha large cut surface must be kept in a dry atmosphere fora few days so that a callus or protective covering is formedover the wound. This is very important as it prevents

bacterial rot which would destroy the cutting. Cacti withsmall exposed surfaces form a protective tissue within afew hours.When cuttings are made , be sure to use a clean sharpknife or razor blade. If the stems are jointed, always make



20/44

SEEDLINGS OF ER1OCRRFUS MARTINIIA NIGHT-BLOOMING CACTUS

much smaller, therefore healing faster. But, if a cutNever be too hasty to place the cutting in the

Experience has shown that cuttings root more readilyin sand or vermiculite. After a good root system is estab-lished, the cutting must be transferred into a soil mediumwhere it will be able to derive nourishment for progressivehealthy growth.Grafting is another successful propagation method.This is not too easily performed by the inexperiencedperson, but with practice and patience anyone can become

an expert. By grafting it is possible to unite two separateand distinct plants and make them grow as one. Thereare a number of reasons why grafting is used: it speedsthe growth of certain plants which are by nature slow-growers; it hastens smaller seedlings to maturity; it is themeans of preserving rare species which might be lostthrough decay; and it insures a good crop of flowers onplants which seldom bloom when grown on their own rootsunder artificial cultivation.There are two types of grafts usually employed: thecleft and the flat. The former is suitable for all slender-stemmed varieties, while the latter is used for the thickglobose cacti types.In cleft-grafting, the stock should be cut to a desiredheight, usually six to 12 inches, and a V-shaped slit madeon top with a clean sharp knife. The scion wedge is cutat the same angle, and this portion is inserted into thestock. A thorn from a Pereskia or Opuntia makes a handystaple to help hold the united portions together. The graftshould be closely wrapped with twine to further preventthe joined sections from drawing apart.In flat-grafting, both scion and stock are cut straightacross. They should be the same width at the contemplated

A Short Course In T heNatural History of Cactus There are approximately 2000 speciesand varieties of cactus plants, all of themnative to the Western Hemisphere. Somehave been found growing wild in Africa,bu t it is a matter of conjecture as tohow they got there. Most naturaliststhink the seeds were carried across theocean by birds. It is easy to see howthe sticky seeds of some cactus plantswould adhere to the beaks and feathersof migratory birds, and then just aseasily be brushed off in places befit forgermination.Judging from appearances, cacti areprobably the most whimsical of allplants. Some look like the cacti of ourimagination: grotesque and spiny; othersdon't fit the mold. Generally speaking,there are two kinds of cactus: thoseinhabiting deserts, and those preferringjungle or forest homes. Their ecologicaladaptations make them very dissimilarin appearance. The desert cacti usuallyhave spiny armament, whereas the jungletypes frequently are unarmed. The for-mer are heavily ribbed or fluted; thelatter are terete (cylindrical and taper-ing) or flattened.To be a member of the cactus family,a plant must have a number of qualifica-

tions, chief among them being: it mustbe a perennial (live for years) withvarious degrees of succulency in itsstems; it must possess certain modifica-tions in the flower and fruit structures;and it must possess specialized organs

called areoles, perhaps the most distin-guishing feature of a cactus. Areolesare small areas marked-out upon thesurface of a joint, in either regular orirregular fashion, from which leaves,branches and flowers make their appear-ance. Areoles correspond to the nodesof other plants. They are usually roundand consist of two buds, but they canbe of other shapesand size varies fromminute to fairly large. Areoles are usu-ally filled with felt, wool, bristles, hairor spines, but occasionally are naked.Cacti are dicotyledonous (producing

two seed leaves as opposed to beingmonocotyledonous producing only asingle lea f). Cacti flowers are perfect,that is they produce all the parts of aflowerpetal, sepal, stamen and ovary.The ovary has to be inferior in positionthe sepals and petals are inserted ontop or above the ovary. And the cactifruit must be a berry, regardless ofsize and shape, and with all the seedsenclosed in one compartment and notdivided into sections as are the seedsof apples and oranges.The cactus family is divided into threedistinct tribes, which are subdividedinto subtribes, genera, subgenera, speciesand varieties. The members of each

division have not only the characteris-tics of the family, but they also haveother features in common which setthem apart from the rest of the family.The three tribes are Pereskia, Opuntiaand Cereus.

Members of the first are assumed tobe the most primitive and for the mostpart are woody and leafy trees, shrubsand vines. In early times, many of thearborescent Pereskias were mistaken forapple and lemon trees and even pur-slanes. At most there are less than 25Pereskia species.The second tribe, Opuntia, has thewidest distribution. Its members arescattered throughout the Western Hemi-sphere from southern Canada to thesouthern tip of South America, and on

most of the adjacent islands, particularlyin the Caribbean. The most commonmembers are the cacti with flat padlikejoints or tubercled cylindric stems, knownin the trade as prickly pears and chollas.Most of the members of this tribe bearglochids in the areolesbundles of tinybarbed bristles that become easily dis-lodged from the plants, but withdrawnwith difficulty from flesh or clothingcoming in contact with them. Approxi-mately 300 species are recognized in thisgroup.The third tribe, Cereus, is the largestand most complex, containing over 1000species ranging from the dwarf to thegigantic in size. The showiest and mostbrilliantly-flowered cacti flowers comefrom this tribe. Cereus have succulentstems which are usually prominentlyribbed, angled or fluted.


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un ion . The scion is simply set upon the cut-surface of thestock, and they are held together with binding twine.Freshly-grafted plants should be placed in a moderatelywarm but shaded place until the cut surfaces grow togetherfirmly and evenly.In the planning and construction of a cactus garden,several facts ought to be considered. First, you must decidewhether you want an all-cactus garden, or if you want tomix cacti with other succulents, or cacti with alpines.Unless created with taste, a cactus garden will look out-of-place, for a jumble of haphazardly-placed rocks andplants do not constitute a rock garden.At most homesparticularly those in cities where theland tends to be level and the lots are smalla cactusgarden m ust be openly artificial. In such cases, the roc k-ery should be placed in a corner of the yard where it willnot stick out like a sore thumb to break the general outlineof the landscaped g round s. This type of garden should bemad e to look as natu ral as possible. Insp iration for itsdesign can be derived from studying the way nature pilesrocks on a hillside.Never build a rockery in the shade of trees, for suc-culen ts delight in full sunligh t. Th e best rocks to use are

those that are porous and moisture-absorbing, such assandstone and limestone. Th ere is no set rule for gro upingthe plants around the stones. Bear in min d, however, thata rockery consisting exclusively of cactus plants is a com-plete garden in itselfit is much harder to create an eye-appealing rockery when you mix in other succulents oralpines.Some folks build shelves into a wooden fence and

place all their small plants on them . In this way the plantsget optimum sunshine and do not take up space in theyard. Others build "formal ga rde ns" with potted cacti byplacing their tallest plants in the center and graduating thesizes to the outer border. Pots can either be plunged in tothe ground up to their rims, or set on top of the ground.Less frequent watering is required with the former method.In recent years patio gardens have become very popular.True exotic foliage plants are frequently planted in theseenclosed gardens, but you'd be surprised how nicely cactiand other succulents will ornament such a place.There is no yard too small or inappropriate for a cactuscollection. It's a great hobb y, for cacti are great plants

once you get to know them. / / /A GROUP OF GRAFTED CACTUS PLANTS

FOR DRAMAT IC CLOSE-UP VIEWS OF CA CT I, T URN T HE PAGESeptember, 1960 / Desert Magazine / 21


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Cactus Close-Ups

THE STRAWBERRY HEDGEHOG CACTI'S FORMIDABLE DEFENSE

"COMB OF THE INDIAN" -A CACTUS NATIVE OF MEXICOPADS OF A PRICKLY PEAR

. X * 1


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The re is a general inclination to look at natu re's ch ildren as a whole. Because of th is,many symmetrical expressions of beauty are overlookeddesert cacti providing an excel-lent case in point. [J The most noticeable comeliness of these succulents occurs in thespring and early summ er month s, of course, when their varied and colorful blossomscome forth; but cacti have a constant beauty of pattern about them that can be enjoyedevery day of the year. To see this special beauty we must view the plant close-up.But, sometimes the close-up may be beyond the scope of the human eye, and in orderto "see," the lens of the camera must be used. W ith the enlarger, u nw anted areasare further eliminated, and the finished picture is a pure concentration of a fetchingspiny arrangement.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES TALLON

THE GOLDEN BARREL CACTUS

THE BORDER ILLUSTRAT ION IS A CLOSE-UP VIE W OF A BARREL CACT US


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Five Gem and Mineral Field Tripson the Colorado DesertB y G L E N N and M A R T H A V A R G A S

] Here are reports on the current status of five gem and mineral collectingfields on the Colorado Desert of California. Glenn and Martha Vargas ofThermal, who recently revisited these areas for Desert Magazine, are pioneersin the rockhound hobby. They have had long association with local andstate hobby groups, and for several years have taught lapidary classes inthe public schools. The three maps accompanying this article appearedin the original Desert Magazine reports on these fields. Consult text for changesin road conditionsand make local inquiry before driving desert back-roads.

(1) GYPSUM ON SALTON SEA'S SHORES Thearea containing the many forms of gypsum that John Hil-ton wrote about in the March '40 Desert Magazine is stillan interesting one to visit. Actually, the collecting field ismuch larger than John reported (see map No. 1 below) ,an d a short distance south it is possible to find crystalclusters.

To reach the collecting grounds, travel south on High-way 111 out of Mecca. The main entrance to the recentlydeveloped Salton Sea State Park is a better check-pointtoday than the one used in the original article. From thepark entrance drive south about 12 miles. The pole usedby John to pin-point the field is now renumbered and use-less as a guide, but another pole conveniently has beenmarked. Look for it on the far-side of the railroad tracksto the left of the highwaya pole numbered 646 in largeblack numerals on a white background.

Stop at this point, walk across the tracks, and you areat the edge of the gypsum field. This place has been visitedby many rockhounds in the past 20 years, and much ofthe better material has long-since dep arted. How ever,some nice specimens still can be found near the sandstone

ridge clearly visible to the east. We also discovered thatby working southward toward the former station of Bert-ram, and even beyond it, the same type of material canbe found.

This is a productive area, but unfortunately the varioustypes of material are not to be considered excellent inquality. The crystals are usually just enough misshapento keep them out of the "fine specimen" category.The alabaster pieces are not large enough to do muchwith in the line of carving, but they make interesting cab-inet specimens. Alabaster is rather rare.For the fluorescent enthusiast, much of the materialhere is of real value. Some of it is quite bright under theultra-violet lamp.By working on down to the vicinity of Bertram, wefound veins of gypsum that at time produced crystal clusters(selenite). These specimens are not top quality. Furtherprospecting of the region to the south and east might un-cover areas that could yield fine specimens.

(2 ) RAINBOW STONE NEAR COO LIDGE SPRINGSThe hill that produces the rainbow stone as describedby John Hilton in the June '39 Desert is still worth a visit.The route has changed a bit after it leaves Coolidge Springs(see map No. 2). Directly opposite the first buildings atthe springs (2.6 miles south of the Imperial County Tine)you will see a road leading to the west. After travelingthis road for just one-tenth of a mile, a power line isreached. Turn south along this line and pass three poles.Midway between the third and fourth poles, a road leadsagain to the west, and continues generally southwest. Wehave been over it a number of times during the past few

ALABASTER &FLUORESCENTGYPSUM


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years, and find that it changes very little. The road isrough, but easily traveled by the higher-clearance automo-biles. There are a number of recently-made turnoffs, butthe main road follows the southeastern slope of the hilland winds in and out of a wash. If you find yourself get-ting out in the open away from the wash, you undoubtedlyhave taken one of the many incorrect forks.If you started checking your mileage at the county lineas suggested by John Hilton, at 5.5 miles you will havereached private propertyand a mine. Turn around hereand park at the first good turnout below. By working thesides of the hill on the left, you should find ample material.You also can find it in the wash at the base of the hill.We have a number of nice sets of bookends made of therainbow stone, but have never seen what we felt to begood enough material to cut into cabochons. All of ourtrips here have been to look for the larger chunks of thefine-grained variety.

( 3 ) B A N D E D R H Y O L I T E IN PINTO BASINOnlythree years have passed since Eugene Conrotto wrote inthe September '57 issue about the fine rhyolite nodules tobe found just south of the U.S.-Baja California borderwest of Mexicali. Access to the area is a bit easier today,but four-wheel-drive transportation is still highly advisable.The turnoff from the Mexicali-Tujuana highway at 26.6miles from Mexicali is still the correct mileage and thetotal of 31 miles to the nodule field is also correct (seemap No. 3).

This material has always been a favorite of ours. It isof a much finer-grained structure than specimens from nearCoolidge Springs, and the colors of the Mexican materialare much brighter and more varied. We have been ableto cut this rhyolite into nice cabochons. In our opinion,the characteristic regular banding of this material is theresult of a form of concentric weathering. At widely-spacedintervals over a long period of time, water penetrated thenodules, and each time it did a small amount of solubleas well as insoluble coloring matter was forced deeperinto the rock. These then tell in a sense a story of "rings"left by repeated injections of solutions. Careful observa-tion of the nodules themselves will show that the outline

of the bands generally follow the outline of the nodule, andas the bands progress toward the center they become moreand more circular. This circular center band (as opposedto the irregular outer band) is simply the result of thesmoothing out and pinching off of the outline irregularitiesduring the water penetration.The petrified wood as described by Conrot to is still tobe found, but because of the great interest in "wood" it isnot as plentiful today in Pinto Basin as it was in the past .While hunting the area along the bench to the east on oneof our trips, we found some veins filled with dog-toothcalcite crystals. None were of excellent quality, but it isnot often that the average collector gets to dig these crystals.Look for them in the large cracks in the rock outcroppings.

(4 ) SAND CON CRE TIONS WEST OF SALTON SEAThings have really changed at Salton Sea since March'52 when Harold Weight wrote about the concretions foundon the west side of the inland sea. Roads, airports, boatmarinas, houses and real estate offices have moved in, buthappily the concretions are still to be found. These bizarresand sculptures are very popular with beginning hobbyistsespecially those who want to display a desert trophy intheir gardens.To reach the area you must first drive to the SaltonCity Airport. Turn right (west) at the airport and drivealongside the landing strip to its far end. Here you willbe close to the area described by Weight. The desertlandsto the west and northwest are amply supplied with concre-tions.

On our last visit we found flagstone-like concretionspiled-up at the end of the airstrip, evidently awaiting ship-ment to commercial garden rock dealers. The areas beyondthe airstrip interested us more, and soon we discoveredfields of small concre tions there . The se pieces resembleall kinds of imaginary animals, and this area is safe totravel with most automobiles, with the small washes pre-senting the only hazards. But walking the desert is theonly way to prospect for mineral specimensespeciallyconcretions which are usually partially buried beneath thesand. You just can't drive and watch for washes, big rocks

1 , R 0 S / MJTS.

ROCKY, SANDY'' DESER T aOAD

LOG FROM INDIOI N D I O " . . " . " . . 0.0VALERIE II.0100 PALMS . . . .11.60ASI5 20.0COUNTY LINE . . .23.6


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..''/&".}&,$/$&' ir-r^SANDy-^ ^ \ a \- . I

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CERROPINi ^ tsS- : : -

,.\::&rK-28.5 C4MP F- (FOUR WHEEL DRIVEFROM HERE T O COLLECT/US AREA)

AB Petrified Wood flreaRhyolite firea

3 T o Tecate 'S Tijuana | 26.6MILES IFROU UEXICAU) T o Mexican

and ruts with one eyewhile theother scans thedesertfor concretions.Very few of the large (one- to three-foot) animal-shaped concretions are left inthe Salton Sea region. Mosthave long since been carted away. But the small ones (afew inches to nearly afoot inlength) still are very plentiful.They areeasy tocarry (the large ones were not), their

ATTENTION ROCKHOUNDS Special Field TripGrab-Bag offer: Desert Magazine will send you 22different back issues containing 22 dese r t gem-mineral field trips (all with detai led maps) foronly$ 3 . These magaz ines arecomple t e and in goodcondition. This is strictly a g r a b - b a g d e a l . . . noe x c h a n g e s . We will pay pos tage . Order bymai lfrom: Dept. GM8, Deser t Magazine, Palm Deser t ,Calif, (noC.O.D. orders, please) .

variety isinfinite, and they are a real stimulant to a vividimagination.(5 ) BLOODSTONE AND " B A C O N O N Y X " IN THEOROCOPIA MOUNTAINSThe t r ip s tothe bloodstonedeposit described inthe March '38 Desert and the "bacononyx" area featured inthe November '40 issue are locatedvery near each other, and it is necessary to travel SaltCreek Wash to reach them. Since thetime John Hilton

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wrote these articles, two major construction projects havetaken place in the immediate area. Just a short way north-east of Dos Palmas (see map No. 1) now runs the Coa-chella Branch of the All-American Canal, and througha greater portion of Salt Creek Wash runs the railroadserving the Kaiser Iron Mine near Desert Center. Thecanal necessitates a different approach to the road up thewash, and with the coming of the railroad, travel up thewash by car seems to have nearly stopped. As a result,the road up the wash is in very poor condition. Th us we

do not recommend a field trip to these Orocopia Mountainareas.This may sound like sour grapes, but even in the daysbefore the canal or the railroad, we never felt the materialfrom either location was really worth the effort. We haveseen very few pieces of the bloodstone which could bemade into cabochons. As for the "bacon onyx" field, wefeel it is not productive of cutting or specimen material.To approach either area today, a four-wheel-drive vehicleis a must. / / /

K anab Southern U tah'sCow-Town Touris t S topBy FRANK JENSEN

Desert Magazine's Utah Travel Correspondent

THE PAIUTE Indians called it kanab,"The Place of the Willows," and theyused the slender branches that walledKanab Creek to build their kahns or pa-poose carriers.The first Mormon outpost was built herein 1865 on the southern flank of the Stateof Deseret. You can't find Fort Kanabtoday. Only a marker by the side of U.S.Highway 89 tells of the efforts by theoriginal 15 families to build the fort. TheBlackhawk War forced abandonment ofthe project, and only after enlisting the aidof the local Indians were the settlers ableto complete the outpost on the banks ofKanab Creek in 1867-68.Brigham Young recognized the value of

Kanab in the scheme of empire building,and in 1870 drew the faithful of the churchfrom nearby towns to bolster the frailsettlement.During the 1870s Kanab prospered as acow-town. The lines of the Deseret Tele-graph Company reached here in 1871. Thefollowing year Kanab became the head-quarters for Major John Wesley Powell'smapping of the Colorado River Plateau.Like most small Utah towns, the high-way dissects the main street, lined on bothsides by modern well-kept motels and res-taurants, set side-by-side with old-fashionedmercantile and curio shops. Kanab is acow-town, a tourist stop, the place wherelevis and bermuda shorts meet.From Kanab it is only a two hour driveto the North Rim of the Grand Canyon,or an hour's ride in the opposite directionto Utah's Zion National Park.Kanab also has a few attractions it canclaim as its own. Among them are IndianRuins, the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, andcolorful Johnson Canyon.The Sand Dunes cover a six-square-milearea northwest of Kanab. This site isreached by a 10-mile graveled road whichleaves U.S. 89 between Kanab and the Mt.Carmel Junction. The dunes, which arenoted for their pink coloring, have beenused for several Hollywood motion picturefilms. Johnson Canyon, 18 miles east ofKanab, likewise has been a favorite ofmovie makers. The canyon has its own1880-style Western cattle town, completewith saloons, dance hall and country store.But, no one lives in the town in JohnsonCanyon. It's just a facade built up, like somany billboards of false fronts, for use asa movie set.

PIPE SPR.NAT'L. MONTo GRAND CANTO N'

While the town may not be real, themovie industry is. More than 70 Westernshave been made out of Kanab since thefilming of the "Dude Ranger" in 1934.Because Kanab has headquartered somany motion pictures, the local chamberof commerce has styled the town as the"Outdoor Movie Capitol of the World."The man most responsible for it all is agravel-voiced restauranteer by the name ofWhit Parry.

The Parry Lodge is one of the finest eat-ing houses in Utah, with a bill of fare todelight any gormet. The Lodge, which in1956 was voted one of the 10 best roadsideinns in the United States, has built its rep-utation on excellent service, fine food, anda homey atmosphere.During the 1920s the Parry Brothers,Chauncey, the oldest, Gronway and Whit-ney, drove their buggy buses into Zion. theGrand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon. Inthose days touring the Utah-Arizona Parkswas a real adventure where you hauledeverything from shovels to food and water.The tour required three weeks to complete.Kanab was one of the stops on the ParryStage Line tour, and an old house built in1890 served as an overnight lodge for boneweary travelers. When the Parry brotherssold out in 1929 they held onto the homewhich was later remodeled to cater to theinfant movie industry they helped promote.

PHOTO and ART credits(Unless otherwise specified below or in tex t ,photographs and art work are by authors offeatures in which they appear.)Page 6, 7, 8, 9: Dale Slocum. 7: Map byNorton Allen. 11: Dr. John Roos. IS:G. E. Kirkpatr ick. 16: John Munn. 18,24, 25, 26, 27, 32-33: Maps by NortonAllen. 34, 35, 38, 39: Charles Herbert.40: New Mexico State Tourist Bureau;Ma p by Norton Allen

In a way the story of the Parry Lodgeis the story of latter-day Kanab. The cityof 2900 has some of the finest restaurantsand motels in Southern Utah, many of thembuilt to the standards of excellence set bythe Lodge. Prices are moderate, too. Roomrates run from $5 to $14 a night. FromJune through August it is best to write orcall in advance for reservations.Here's a September calendar of eventsfor Utah: 2-3: Uranium Days, Moab; 2-5:Harvest Days, Payson; 2-5: Beaver ValleyRoundup, Beaver; 3-5: Iron County Fair,

Parowan; 4-11: Speed Trials at BonnevilleSalt Flats (World Land Speed Record at-tempt on 11th); 5: 16th Annual Steel DayCelebration, American Fork; 5: Roy DayCelebration, Roy; 9-10: Peach Days, Brig-ham City; 18-19: 40th Annual Melon DayCelebration, Green River. / / /The following events will take place inNevada this month: Sept. 2-5Elko Coun-ty Fair; Sept. 3-5Lions Stampede and'49er Show, Fallon; Sept. 3-5Nevada Ro-deo and Fair, Winnemucca; Sept. 10-11Lake Mead National Ski Races; Sept. 16-18Max Conrad Air Races, Elko; Sept. 21-25Community Fair, Las Vegas. / / /

THE LAPIDARY'SSTANDARD OF VALUEBU THE BESTFOR LESSCongo Dia BladesSizes range from4 to 24"

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Highland Park Combination UnitAvailable in all sizes. Perfect combina-tion unit for Lapidary work. Handles saw-ing, grinding, sanding, and polishing. Ex-ceptionally quiet operation.Arbors of All SizesTumblers, Belt Sanders,Trim Saws 41Models to Choose FromThe most complete line of lapidary ma-chinery offered by any manufacturer. Seethese at your local Highland Park dealeror write for free literature.HIGHLAND PARK MANU FACTURING CO.1009-1011 MISSION STREETSOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA


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TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS How to Place an Ad: Mail your copy and first-insertion remit-tance to: Trading Post, Desert Magazine,Palm Desert, Calif. Classified rates are 20c per w o r d , $4

minimum per insertion. BOOKS-MAGAZINESREAD THE Prospector's Guide. Tells how andwhere to prospect for minerals, etc. Sendfor application to United Prospectors, 701 ViEast Edgeware, Los Angeles 26, Cali fornia.OUT-OF-print books at lowest prices! You nameiiwe find it! Western Americana, desert andIndian books a specialty. Send us your wants.No oblig ation . International Bookfinders, Box3003-D, Beverly Hills, California.PINE CONES booklet pictures tiny cones to foo t

long. Unusual all-cone wreaths, Decemberevergreens. Western Tree Cones, Corva llis,Oregon."GEMS 8. Minerals Magazine," largest rock hobbymon thly. Field tr ips, "how" articles, pictures,ads. $3 year. Sample 25c. Box 687J, Mentone,California.GEM HUNTERS Atlas. Three great boo ks for therock collector, covering the eleven westernstates. Each atlas has 32 full page maps withgem hunting areas spotted in color. Type ofmaterial, mileages and all highways are shown.Nor thwest $1 , CaliforniaNevada $1, South-west $1, postpaid. Wr i te for our selected listof books on mineralogy, wi ld l i fe, Amer icana,and travel. Scenic Guides, Box 288, Susan-vi l le , Cali fornia.DEATH VALLEY valuable guide. The secrets ofDeath Valley bared. Beautiful i l lustrations.$3.50 postpaid. Travel Writer 's Passport,unique handbook for trave! writers and pho-tographers, tells you how to sell your storiesand pictures, $1 postpaid. Special Offer: bothbooks for only $4 postpaid. Order todayf rom : Martin Gross, P.O. Box 3021, GrandCentral Station, New York 17, N.Y.WILL BUY books, pamphlets on the West, Indians,Outlaws, Cattle. Top price paid for any TexasHistory published before 1895. Please stateasking price or send for appraisal. PriceDaniel, P.O. Drawer 2450-DM, Waco, Texas.INDIAN USES of Native Plants, by Edith V. A.Murphey. Third and last printing, September1. Order now. Address: Edith V. A. Murphey,Box 333, Covelo, California. Price $2.50 post-paid and tax paid.LOCATE ANY book. No obl igat ion. We search;quote price. Specializ ing Western Americana.Aardvarks Desert Bookhunters, Box 734-D, LaMesa, California.SO YOU Want to Start a Rock Shop, new bookby Ar thur E. and Lila Mae Victor, 52 pages,price $2. Invaluable information for trie be-ginning rock shop, or any " thumb-nai l" s izedretail business. Interesting reading for any

one. By the same authors, GemTumbling andBaroque Jewelry Making, sixth edit ion, autho-r itative and recognized book of complete in-structions. At your dealers or order direct, $2each, postpaid from Victor Agate Shop, South1709 Cedar, Spokane 41, Washington. 8c taxWashington delivery.

BOOKS: "PANNING Gold for Beginners," 50c."Gold in Placer," $3. Frank J. Harnagy, 7011/2E. Edgeware, Los Angeles 26, California.

EQUIPMENT-SUPPLIESCAMPING EQUIPMENT, tents; world's largestselection. Send 25c for new 160 page cata-log. Morsan Tents, 10-21U 50th Ave., LongIsland City 1, New York .CAM PING EQUIPMENT: Personally selected scout,t ra i l , family tents. Best quality United Statesmanufacturers. European pack equipment. Sat-isfaction guaranteed. Send 25c for catalog.Don Gleason's Campers' Supply, Northampton,Massachusetts. Good practical equipment atsensible prices.DISPLAY CASES, Walnut. The perfect mount forshowing those "Hands Off" i tems! 8" x I I V 2 "inside dimensions; V2" depth$3, 1" depth

$3.75. Collection cabinets: four drawer, wal-nu t and maple with brass hardware, IOV2 x13 x 2 0 V 2 " - $ 4 9 . 5 0 , 12 x 17 x 2 6 ' /2 " - $ 6 4 . 5 0 .Free brochures. Museum & Collectors Supply,Box 1188-D, Ardmore, Oklahoma.ULTRAVIOLET LAMPS from $14,50 . Accessories,tubes, filters, electrical parts, batteries avail-able. Free litera ture. Radiant Ultra Viole tProducts, Manufacturers, Cambria Heights 11,New York.FREE CATALOG Wo rld's finest lig htw eig ht camp-in g and mountaineering equipment. Used onMt. Everest, Himalayas, Andes, etc. It's ex-pensive but absolutely unsurpassed! Gerry,Dept. 107, Ward, Colorado.MICROSCOPES, NEW and used, for professionalsand hobb yists. Slides, accessories, books.Write for price list. Peninsula Scientific, 2421El Camino, Palo Alto, California.NEW TYPE tumbler rough grinds, polishes, oneoperat ion, no changing belts or pulleys. Sixpolished Lake Superior agates from MississippiRiver, postpaid $1. Scoop Advertis ing Service,Stockron, Il l inois.WAN TED: USED rock crusher in operating shape.Small to medium size. Write: M. L. Nevit t ,1516 Kettner, San Diego, Calif.

FOR W O M E NLADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Beautif ier."Your whole beauty treatment in one jar. Pro-tect skin against sun, w i n d . For free brochurewr ite : Lola Barnes, 963 North Oakland, Pasa-dena 6, California.DRY SKIN conditions solved with daily applica-tion of G'Bye Dry. Large jar prepaid for only$1 . Try it now and be desert happy. NevadaRX Drug, Boulder City, Nevada.SOUR DOUGH biscuit recipe and full directions$1 . Dutchoven or modern baking. Revive thelost art. Franks Murdock, Dalhart, Texas.RETURN GREY hair to youthful color , in privacyyour bedroom. Guaranteed. Details free. MaryReid, Box 68, Hackensack City 2, New Jersey.ENJOY DELICIOUS salt rising brea d. Send $1for complete recipe to: A'Della Whitmore,808 31st Street, Bakersfield, Calif.

GEMS, C U T - P O L I S H E DFOR YOUR collectionFlorida's beautiful coralagate. Send one dollar (no tax) for polishedspecimen to The Agatery, 851 Bay Point Drive,Madeira Beach 8, Flor ida. Money back if notsatisfied.AUSTRALIAN TUMBLED gemstones, 8 dif ferentpolished baroques, identif ied, suitable fornecklace or chain bracelet. $1.10 postpaid.Or 10 different polished baroques, identif ied,f rom around the w o r l d . $1.25 postpaid.Bensusan, 8615 Columbus Avenue, Sepulveda,Cal i fornia.GENUINE TURQUOISE: N atural color, blue andbluish green, cut and polished cabochons25carats (5 to 10 stones according to size) $3.50inc luding tax, postpaid. 50 carats (10 to 20cabochons) $6.15 inc luding tax, postpaid inU.S.A. Write for folder. Elliott Gem & MineralShop, 235 E. Seaside Blvd., Long Beach 2, Cal.CALIFORNIA DESERT rocks. Gem qual i ty . Pol-ished. Large assortment. One dol lar postpaid.Pol lard , 12719 Laurel Street, Lakeside,, Calif.BEAUTIFULLY POLISHED apache tears $3 pound,agate or jasper $2 pound, pure tin ox ide$1.95 poun d, plus postage. 2039 East BuckeyeRoad, Phoenix, Arizona.FIRE AGATE, tumbled, polished, will cut a 13x18mm. cabochon. $3 each tax inc luded, postpaid.Fire guaranteed or money refund ed. D imickMining Co., P.O. Box 1795, Cli f ton, Ar izona.OPAL, AMETHYST, etc. 10 r ingsize stones, groundand polished ready to set, $5. Opals, deepred, blue, green, golden flashing in all colorsof the rainbow, direct from the mine, 15 for$5. Kendal l , San Miguel d 'A l lende, Guanaju-ato, Mexico.

G EM S, DEALERSVISIT GOLD Pan Rock Shop. Bea utiful spherematerial, mineral specimens, choice crystals,cutting materials, jewelry, bolo t ies, baroques,spheres, bookends, paperweights, cabochons,facete d stones, fluorescents, jew elry findings,lapidary equipment and supplies, Navajo rugs,custom sawingby the inch or shares. Saws,up to 30-inch diameters. John and Etta James,proprietors, 2020 North Carson Street on High-w ay 395 north end of town. Carson City, Nev.CHOICE MINERAL specimens, rough and cut gemmaterial, lapidary and jewelry equipment andsupplies, mountings, f luorescent lamps, books.Valley Art Shoppe, 21108 Devonshire Street,Chatsworth, California.NEW LOCATION, new store: everything for therock hounds, interesting gifts, minerals, slabs,rough material, lapidary supplies, mountingsfor your cabs. Stop and see us. ShamrockRock Shop, 593 West La Cadena Drive, River-side, California . OVerland 6-3956.ANNOUNCEMENT TO dealers and suppliers: TheColes ' , "nat ional ly known" for f ine gemstone,minerals, Indian artifacts, specimens, collectorsitems, etc. are now offering wholesale serviceand prices on several items. More will be

constantly adde'd for wholesale purchasers.Dealers invited to send their names for presentand later offerings. Suppliers information onmaterials, etc. inv i ted, if priced so we canwholesale to others. The Coles', 551 S.W.Coast Hiway, Newport, Oregon. Retail andwholesale.


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TRADING POST CLASSIFIEDS continuedDESERT ROCKS, wo od s, jew elr y. Residence rearof shop. Rockhounds welcome. Mile west onU.S. 66. McShan's Gem Shop and DesertMuseum. P.O. Box 22, Needles, California .RED ROCK Shop has minerals, slabs, petrified

w o o d , gifts , curios. W ill trade. 2'/2 milessouthwest on U.S. 89A, Sedona, Arizona.FROM OKLAH OMA : Everything for the collector.Domestic and foreign minerals, gem roughand supp lies. Free lists. M useum 8> CollectorsSupply, Box 1188-D, Ardmore, Oklahoma. GEM S, MINERALS - FOSSILSFOSSILS. 12 diffe ren t for $2 . O ther prices onrequest. Will buy, sell or trade. Museum ofFossils. Clifford H. Earl, P. O. Box 188,Sedona, Ar izona.FINE DOMESTIC and foreign crystals and mas-sive minerals. Please ask for fre e list. Con-

tinental Minerals, P.O. Box 1206, Anaconda,Montana.BEGINNERS ILLUSTRATED ca talo g. Spec ializedmineral , gem, crystal, fossil study collections;chemical, blowpipe, ultraviolet test kits, man-uals, field guides, other beginner accessories.25c. Mineral Lore, 3004 Park Avenue, SanBernardino 2, California.GOLD SPECIMENS prepaid to any address inU.S. $1 each. W rite address plainly . Prospec-tor, 347-A West 23rd Street, San Bernardino,Cal i fornia.FOUR NATURAL staurolites, cross on both sides,for $1 postpaid. "Animals" assembled f romuncut quartz crystals "Rockhound," $1.25each. Five assorted animals, $5.50 postpaid.Reasoner Rock Originals, Crown King Highway,Bumble Bee, Arizona.

GEMS, ROUGH MATERIALTURQUOISE FOR sale. Turquoise in the roughpriced st from $5 to $50 a pou nd. Royal BlueMines Co., Tonopah, Nevada.GEM QUALITY golden t igereye $1 pound, Mo-jave Desert agate, howlite, jaspers 75c pound.Austral ian rhodonite, aventur ine, ra inbow ob-sidian $1 pound. Summer special: 10 poundsCalifornia mixed rough $5. Highly polishedmixed baroques $2.50 pound. Postage and

tax extra. Tubby's Rock Shop, 3329 Ma yfieldAve., La Crescenta, California.OPALITE: ALL beautiful colors and shades, gemor decorative. State wh ich. $1 per pou nd,five pounds minim um orde r. Sales tax 2 per-cent, F.O.B. McDonald Opa lite, Box 521 , Mil-f o rd , Utah.CENTRAL OREGON rocks. Good variety for cut-t i ng . Go od, 10 pounds $3.50. Better, 10pounds $6. Best, 10 pounds $11 . Postpaid.100 pounds of above mixed, $40 freightpaid. Ashby's, Route 2, Box 92, Redmond,Oregon.TRINIDAD JASPER 10 pounds $8.50, postpaid.Dealers write for prices on baroques. Roy'sRock Shop, P. O. Box 133, Trinidad, Calif.WOOD, VERY color fu l and good gem qual i ty .State color and size wanted, 75c per pound,postage paid. Simonds Mines, Box 51 1, Hanks-v i l le, Utah.

MINNESOTA SUPERIOR agates V% to 1 inch$1.35 pound p ostp aid; 1 to 2 inch $2.50pound postpaid. 3 polished Thompsonites $1postpaid. Frank Engstrom, Grey Eagle, Min n.GEM MATERIAL from the M ojave Desert. Your

choice: Mojave agate, lavic jasper, verde an-tique, palmwood, travertine (green), chapenite,onyx, opalite, jasp-agate, buds eye, and mixedjasper. 100 pounds $22.

Documents

196009 Desert Magazine 1960 September