THE CACTUS 143 



a very slight irrigation once during the dry season 

 will be highly beneficial, but not absolutely neces- 

 sary, as the plants will live where not a drop of 

 rain falls for many years, if the soil is not too 

 fiercely sun-baked. 



By such treatment the fruit is greatly in- 

 creased in size and improved in quality, and the 

 slabs for forage are doubled in weight. 



In a word, no plant responds more promptly 

 to good treatment than does the Opuntia. 



Yet, on the other hand, the plant retains the 

 primeval capacity of its ancestors to make its way 

 under the most unfavorable conditions. 



MAKING A FORAGE AND FRUIT FIELD 



Unlike most other plants, the Opuntias root 

 best during the heat of summer. This is also the 

 best time to transplant them. In fact they should 

 not be moved at other seasons. ,No one who is 

 familiar with the Opuntias would undertake to 

 root or transplant them during the cold, damp 

 weather, such as would be best for other plants. 



But if transplanted during May, June, July, 

 August, or September they will thrive under al- 

 most any treatment. The joints, blossoms, buds, 

 half-grown fruit, or any part of the plant will 

 take root and grow under the most discouraging 

 circumstances. I have seen them develop on the 



