THE CACTUS 115 



Opuntias received from any source was alto- 

 gether spineless. Spineless forms of some of the 

 other genera are familiar, but it was early dis-^ 

 covered that the Opuntias must be looked to for 

 the development of a race of cactus that would 

 have economic value. And, as I said, no form 

 of Opuntia was received, among all the 

 hundreds of specimens from various parts 

 of the world, that was altogether spineless and 

 spiculeless. 



The form already referred to as the ana- 

 caniha, of which specimens were received from 

 various widely separated countries, came as near 

 to spinelessness as any other form of true 

 Opuntia. 



There is a very small and very tender species 

 that is allied to the Opuntias, and very closely 

 resembling them, but is classified as a Nopalia, 

 which was received from various parts of 

 California and Mexico, as well as from the 

 Hawaiian Islands, the Philippines, and from 

 Europe, under various names, which is alto- 

 gether spineless. 



But this species is very sensitive to frost or to 

 excessive heat, and in general succumbs to any 

 untoward conditions so readily as to be value- 

 less for this purpose, besides not being relished 

 by any stock. 



