LUTHER BURBANK 



But if transplanted during May, June, July, 

 August, or September they will thrive under al- 

 most any treatment. The leaves, blossoms, buds, 

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

 root and grow under the most discouraging cir- 

 cumstances. I have seen them develop on the floor 

 back of a cook stove, in the pocket of a winter 

 overcoat, lying on a writing desk, and in similar 

 unlikely places. 



The Opuntias differ from nearly all the other 

 plants in that the cuttings must first be wilted 

 before they will grow (unless in the dry, heated 

 part of summer) ; after which, nothing grows more 

 readily. 



When you receive cuttings, place them in some 

 warm, sunny place, and allow them to remain a 

 week or more, after which they will readily form 

 roots and start to grow almost anywhere. They 

 may best be planted so that about one-third of the 

 cutting is below the soil. The cutting may be 

 planted in an upright position, or at any angle- 

 such details make no difference to the Opuntias. 



On fairly good soil, to provide a forage field 

 for stock feed, the giant Opuntias should be 

 planted two rows together at intervals of three or 

 four feet, according to variety, and then a space 

 of ten or twelve feet left, and another pair of rows 

 planted in the same way. This has been found to 



[232] 



