160 LUTHER BURBANK 



substitute for hot water bags the thornless 

 kind being naturally preferred! 



Fifth: The abundant plant juices contain a 

 mucilaginous substance that is used to fix pig- 

 ments, and which in time will be put to many 

 other important uses. 



Sixth: The thorny varieties are used for 

 hedges or fences, as well as for ornament, and even 

 to protect the thornless ones. No animal of any 

 kind will undertake to pass through one of these 

 thorny hedges. In regions subject to the drift- 

 ing of sand they serve an important purpose 

 as barriers. 



Seventh: The fiber of the plant makes an 

 admirable stock for the manufacture of paper, 

 but not as yet in large quantities. 



Eighth: In general, the adaptability of the 

 new Opuntias to the arid region gives assurance 

 that vast semiarid regions of the globe will be 

 made habitable and productive, although hither- 

 to they have produced scant if any vegetation of 

 economic value. 



Without looking further it must be clear that 

 a plant having such qualities may be regarded as 

 the most neglected of vegetable products. Owing 

 to its spines, the cactus has been regarded as an 

 enemy of man. Now that its spines are removed 

 its good qualities will in due course be appre- 



