OPtJHTXA. 103 



been offered for a practicable method of exterminating thorn where 

 they have taken complete possession of large areas of good land. 



Cochineal was formerly obtained from a species of plant-bug 

 which was cultivated on two species of Opuntia in the Canary 

 Islands. 



The flowers of Opuntias are as a rule attractive. In many 

 species they are large and well- formed, tawny-yellow, greenish - 

 white, or dull red. They cannot, however, be recommended for 

 their floral beauty, although it is probable that the same flowers 

 on plants of more pleasing appearance would be admired. There 

 are a few exceptions to this, 0. Rafinesquii, 0. missovriensis, and 

 O. basilaris, bearing numerous large, brightly -coloured flowers. 

 The fruits of some of them are edible, and to some palates agreeable. 

 Others find them mawkish and insipid, like poor gooseberries. 

 Sir Joseph Hooker has compared them to Pumpkins. They are 

 pear-shaped, with a thick rind, green, yellow, or red pulp, and 

 small, hard seeds imbedded in it. 



The fruit of Opuntia consists of a branch, or joint, modified in 

 form, and bearing on its flattened apex a flower. After becoming 

 fertilised, the ovary grows down into the joint, and ultimately the 

 whole joint is changed into a succulent, juicy and sometimes 

 edible fruit. By planting the unripe " fruit " of Opuntias in pots 

 of sandy soil, and treating them as cuttings, they will develop buds 

 at the apex and roots at the base, ultimately forming plants. 



The vitality in the branches of most of the species is very great, 

 the smallest portion, as a rule, emitting roots and developing into 

 a plant in a short time. The branches are soft, and easily broken, 

 so that, in gathering the fruits, many pieces are broken off and left, 

 these grow into plants, and in a short time an extensive colony of 

 Opuntias is formed. The seeds, too, are a ready means of increase, 

 being distributed by birds and other animals which eat the fruits. 

 It is in consequence of this that Opuntias introduced into some of 

 our Colonies have become as difficult to deal Avith as the rabbit 

 scourge in Australia. In English gardens, however, there is no 

 danger of this. The ease with which they may be grown and 

 propagated, render their management an easy matter. When placed 

 among other plants, Opuntias have a striking effect. 



The more robust kinds of Opuntia may be used as stocks for 

 grafting, and very odd-looking specimens may be obtained by 

 making the most of this fact. One of the crested or monstrous 

 forms, when grafted on a flat-stemmed Opuntia, presents the 

 appearance of a large green cockscomb growing out of the top of 

 a battledore-like stem. Equally odd combinations may be made 

 by grafting flat- stemmed on cylindrical. They unite with the 

 greatest ease, the time most favourable for grafting being April. 

 For directions for grafting Cacti, see Chapter 111. 



