THE CACTUS 133 



withstanding its loss of the protective spines. 

 Now that it has been developed, and the spine- 

 less condition combined with the traits of prolific 

 growth and abundant bearing, the race which 

 could never have made its way under natural con- 

 ditions may be sent back to the desert to provide 

 forage for animals in almost unbelievable 

 quantity. But even now it will be necessary to 

 protect the plants from the herds. It is only 

 after the Opuntia has attained a fair growth 

 that it could withstand the attacks of the herbiv- 

 orous animals, which find its succulent slabs 

 altogether to their liking. 



Some uninformed newspaper reporters have 

 unfortunately given the impression to the public 

 that the seed of the improved varieties could be 

 sown on the desert land like wheat, and grown 

 without fencing or other protection. Let us ask, 

 what crop that man values in any country is not 

 fenced? The more valuable the crop, the more 

 carefully must it be protected. The very fact 

 that all herbivorous animals relish these new 

 creations proves their value and the necessity 

 for protecting them. 



BOTH FOOD AND DRINK 



So thoroughly appealing, indeed, is the flesh 

 of the cactus plant to the palate of the herbivo- 



