Yours Sincerely

ABOUT HORSES: Congratulations on your February number. The other evening I was showing it to a friend of mine who in his youth had a lot of experience with horses in Ohio. When we came to the Leigh painting "Female of the Species" he asked what I thought its significance was. I promptly told him it seemed very plain to me that it was the mare defend ing the colt. He replied to the effect that so far as he knew the horse was the only animal which did not defend its young and he was very skeptical of the correctness of the picture on that account. My reply was that there might be a difference between horses raised in peaceful Ohio and horses raised in the desert or in the mountains. He still insisted, however, that while he believed this was a fine picture and appealed to the imagination, it did not correctly represent the true situation. I am just obstinate enough in my own opinion to still believe he is wrong and I thought I would ask you if you would be kind enough to drop me a line and tell me.

James B. Atwater, Derby, Connecticut.

ABOUT PERLITE: Your attention is invited to an article in ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, January issue, re Building Insulation. We have not seen the article but we understand that it states that Government Bulletin 1-C166 may be obtained from this Bureau. Considerable mail requests have been directed to us from points throughout the country asking for this bulletin. Since it is not of our authorship, additional handling is made necessary. Moreover, since the symbol (1-C-166) is in error, much extra letter writing has resulted.

Probably this "1-C-166" refers to one of two publications of the U. S. Bureau Of Mines. They are as follows: ICC-7166-Home Insulation 1C-7364 Perlite, Sources of Synthetic Pumice In view of the great amount of inter-est shown in the article which you published, you will probably want to determine which of these references is correct and then note the correct reference and source in a future publication.

Bureau of Mines publications should be obtained from that Bureau at 4800 Forbes Street, Pittsburgh 13, Pa.

Sherman F. Booth, Commodity Standards Division, U. S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D. C.

ABOUT CACTI: I should like to take this oppor-tunity of conveying to you not only my own appreciation but that of all the members of this Society, numbering over a thousand, who have had the opportunity of seeing odd copies of your publication which have been sent to us us through the kind generosity of friends in the U. S. A. who realize that we do not get permission to obtain dollars for the subscription to your publication.

You will no doubt realize how much vour wonderful picture of Cacti mean to us in particular and how difficult it is for our librarian to arrange for all our many members to get sight of the few copies we have. I wonder if any of the American sub-scribers to your publication would care to forward their used copies to me for the use of our members. They may rest assured that every single copy will be treasured and looked at by hundreds.

H. M. Roan National Cactus & Succulent Society, "Tree Tops," Church Lane, Adel, Leeds 6, England.

"MT. GRAHAM" A STUDY BY JERRY McLAIN

Overlooking Safford and the rich Gila valley is Mt. Graham, 10.516 feet in elevation. It supports a heavy forest.

TREASURE

The rarest things In the world, I guess, Are an honest heart And a child's caress.

For a heart that's true Wins a prince's nod, And a baby's kiss Is a smile from God.

DESERT LORE

When proud Saguaro dons her bridal wreath, When Ocotillo hangs her chili out to dry, When Indian Paintbrush points the way to Heaven, We desert dwellers know that Spring is marching by.

TRUANT

Oh vagrant leaf, what earthly function yours In early spring-time fallen from the tree? What mission do you swerve and dip to serve Far from your proper green community? Oh restless one, in cool and sheltered glade, You hesitate, then rise and quickly go To drop again and try some distant shade And be uneasy even lying so. Does Nature love a wild and wanton leafFar more, perhaps, than those upon the tree? Is that the reason that she seems to smile Upon your wandering, indulgently? Some day you may, a warm and webby place For some small creature's home, in death provide. No longer part of wild and whirling race, But meanwhile, free one, sail the errant tide. Yes meanwhile, exile, sail the errant tide While tree-bound brothers envy you your game. Continue in your lonely, random ride Consoling lonely men who do the same.

Florence Priest