THE CACTUS 117 



We have already referred to the fact that 

 there are absolutely spineless forms of the 

 genera Epiphyllum and Cereus. 



These, indeed, have been well known to me 

 for fifty-five years, and are familiar to all 

 students of plant life. But, as just noted, 

 investigations showed that the genus Opuntia 

 must be depended on for material with which to 

 build an economic race of spineless cactus. 



This experiment, it will be understood, was 

 intensely practical in its aim from the outset. 



It was not at all my thought merely to pro- 

 duce an interesting race of spineless cactus of 

 diversified forms. 



The spineless cactus of my ideal was one that 

 would have practical value as a forage plant; 

 one, therefore, that would grow luxuriantly in 

 arid places, would be reasonably hardy and 

 resistant to extremes of temperature, and would 

 produce an abundance of succulent forage as 

 well as a supply of palatable fruit. 



I repeat that I have still to see any form of 

 Opuntia that is of good size and suitable for 

 forage and yet that is altogether free from spines 

 and spicules, except the ones that have been 

 developed on my experiment grounds, and their 

 progeny; and no such variety has yet been 

 reported, although the authorities of the Agri- 



