THE CACTUS 101 



the experiments were it necessary to go through 

 the same ordeal again. 



Not only would the little spicules find lodg- 

 ment everywhere in my skin, but my clothing 

 became filled with them, and the little barbs 

 would gradually work their way through the 

 cloth and into my flesh, causing intense irri- 

 tation. 



At first much time was devoted in the endeavor 

 to remove the very inconspicuous but exceed- 

 ingly irritating and pain-producing little spicules 

 with the aid of a magnifying glass and forceps. 

 But it was ultimately learned that the only satis- 

 factory expedient was to shave off the spicules 

 with a sharp razor, or to sandpaper them off, 

 which can readily be done where a great quantity 

 is to be dealt with. When thus reduced in size 

 they would not farther enter the flesh, and gradu- 

 ally the pain would subside. 



But the recollection of the torture in con- 

 nection with the development of the spineless 

 cactus will always remain the most painful 

 one associated with any of my plant de- 

 velopments. 



No other complication comparable to this has 

 been encountered in connection with the con- 

 siderably over twenty-five thousand species of 

 plants with which I have experimented. 



