BURBANK'S THORNLESS CACTUS AT 

 KIAMUKI 



"Burbank's thornless cactus is now being culti- 

 vated at Kiamuki, and plants are being taken 

 from there and sent to the other islands. This 

 new form of cactus is growing well and there 

 are hopes that it will grow rapidly on the other 

 islands, especially in the cattle districts. 



"As a food product the cactus appeals to cattle 

 as one of the most attractive foods found in the 

 pasture lands. Even the thorny cactus is eaten 

 by them." "Commercial Advertiser/' Honolulu, 

 T. H. 



International Headquarters Salvation Army 

 Service, London, E. C. 



"I am so glad to know that you will so kindly 

 supply us with your latest varieties of absolutely 

 spineless cactus, as I am sure this will be most 

 valuable to India. Next to human beings the 

 cattle in India suffer terribly at the time of 

 famine and scarcity; in fact, during two or 

 three months every year they are reduced to 

 the point of starvation during the extremely 

 hot weather, wandering about in search of food. 

 Hence, I feel sure your cactus will be a great 

 boon to them, for cactus, as you know, grows 

 freely in all parts of India, only it is of the 

 thorny kind. 



"Wishing you every success in your work, be- 

 lieve me, 



"Yours very sincerely, 



"F. BOOTH TUCKER." 



Imperial Russian Consulate, 

 San Francisco, Cal. 

 Luther Burbank, Esq., Santa Rosa, Cal. 



Dear Sir: It is generally known that scientific 

 societies, both public and private, as well as the 

 world at large, are greatly interested in your 

 work of research. Lately the Imperial Russian 

 Department of Agriculture has turned its atten- 

 tion to your cultivation of the thornless cactus. 

 I have the honor to be, 



Yours truly, 



K. 



THAT SPINELESS CACTUS IS A SUCCESS 



HAS BEEN PROVEN AT YUMA 

 The growing of spineless cactus is no longer 

 a desert dream, or the figment of the imagina- 

 tion. This desert wonder is being grown in the 

 desert lands adjacent to Yuma and some sur- 

 prisingly good results are being obtained. 

 "Times," Bouse, Ariz. 



"That the Chamber of Commerce of the city 

 of San Diego does most heartily endorse the ef- 

 forts to spread the new Burbank fodder, thorn- 

 less cactus, throughout the Southwest, thereby 

 rendering highly productive vast areas of arid 

 and semi-arid lands, and thus still further demon- 

 strating the agricultural importance of this sec- 

 tion of the country." Resolution adopted by 

 San Diego Chamber of Commerce. 



SAMPLES OF VARIOUS COMMENTS ON THE 

 WORK 



"Mr. Burbank's first publication on economic 

 cacti serves to> set at rest many groundless sup- 



positions as to the character of the work he has 

 had under way for years on these plants. Some 

 persons, forgetting that Mr. Burbank has made 

 up to now no official announcement of his work, 

 jumped to the conclusion that he had merely hit 

 upon one of the common nearly spineless forms 

 of Opuntia Ficus Indica. Others more dishonest 

 have been offering for sale so-called 'Burbank's 

 Thornless Cactus,' despite the fact that not a 

 single plant or seed of Mr. Burbank's new crea- 

 tions has left his grounds up to a few weeks ago. 

 "Mr. Burbank was perfectly well aware of the 

 inception of his work on the opuntias that there 

 were many forms nearly thornless, and he has 

 even brought to light one kind, which he calls the 

 'Marin,' grown in many countries, that has 

 neither spines nor spicules. The Marin is not 

 of much value, however, as it is a rather small 

 plant and is not hardy. The new forms are 

 much more rapid growers and are also more 

 hardy." Dr. Walter T. Swingle, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 



Consulado G-eneral de Mexico, 



San Francisco, Cal. 

 Hon. Luther Burbank, 

 Santa Rosa, Oal. 



Honored Sir. I beg to offer you my profound 

 acknowledgments for your kindest authorization 

 to have your announcement of the spineless cacti 

 translated into Spanish by Professor Luis A. 

 Beauregard, Director General of Public Instruc- 

 tion of Campeche, Mexico. 



I have sent to the professor a textual copy of 

 your honored letter. 



I have, sir, the honor to be 



Your most obedient servant, 



P. ORNELAS. 



"It produces tremendous tonnage; it requires no 

 irrigation; it is an excellent dairy roughage, good 

 roughage for any cattle, and can be used for hogs, 

 chickens, sheep and goats. It can be fed in a 

 green succulent condition all the year. It has no 

 serious insect or fungous enemies. One planting 

 is good for repeated cuttings. It does not de- 

 teriorate with age, but can be fed when five or 

 six years old to even better advantage than when 

 young. It is a certain crop under conditions 

 which cause other crops to be a failure. 



"It has been called a 'vegetable that grows 

 fruit.' " 



"As a poultry food it is unsurpassed. Poultry 

 will leave alfalfa, lettuce and other green food 

 for cactus leaves." 



"The response of this plant to cultivation is 

 phenomenal. We know of no parallel in the his- 

 tory of cultivated crops. The cacti in general 

 are considered plants of slow growth and the 

 pear of Southern Texas is no exception to the 

 general rule. While it might take it five or six 

 years to grow large enough to pay to harvest in 

 the native pastures, it makes a big crop in two 

 years when cultivated. By actual test it grows 

 eight times as fast with good cultivation as it 

 does without cultivation in grassy pastures." 



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