ON THE SPINELESS CACTUS 



brought about, such as we have seen, for example, 

 in the case of thornless blackberry and sloneless 

 plum among other plant developments. 



Thus the qualities of size and succulence of the 

 Opuntia might perhaps be combined with the 

 smooth skin of the small, partially spineless 

 species. 



The hope that it might be possible to effect such 

 a transformation through hybridization was 

 abundantly justified. In due time such a new race 

 was developed, a gigantic cactus, overtopping all 

 its known ancestors in size, and surpassing them 

 all in succulence of flesh, producing fruit of unpre- 

 dicted excellence in almost unbelievable quantity, 

 and having a surface as smooth as the palm of your 

 hand. Such a plant was produced as the result of 

 hybridizing experiments, followed up and supple- 

 mented by the usual methods of rigid selection. 

 But the result was not achieved with the small 

 cacti referred to. Meantime I was carrying on 

 extensive experiments with all the half-spineless 

 ones which had been well known for centuries. 

 A SOUL-TESTING EXPERIENCE 



But the work through which this result was 

 achieved constituted in some respects the most 

 arduous and soul-testing experience that I have 

 ever undergone. 



In carrying out the experiments, from the initial 



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