LUTHER BURBANK 



on the Opuntias. It practically paid for the build- 

 ing of my new home, but, of course, fell far short 

 of the sum expended on the cactus experiments. 



A little later a company, formed to control the 

 introduction of the plant in the northern hemi- 

 sphere, paid me a large sum for my interest in the 

 entire stock, including one or two hardy hybrids 

 that had value for further experimental purposes. 

 The original sale included individual slabs of the 

 different varieties just named, and a few others. 

 The later deliveries included moKe than fifty tons 

 of slabs and plant bodies, constituting the tangible 

 results of the long series of experiments. 



My experiment garden, however, still has a 

 large quantity of Opuntias in various stages of 

 development, but particularly those that are being 

 developed for their fruiting qualities. Not less 

 than five hundred tons of forage — as nearly as can 

 be estimated — are now standing on less than half 

 an acre at Santa Rosa. 



As forage plants, the spineless Opuntias already 

 developed have attained a degree of perfection 

 that leaves little to be desired. 



Propagation of the Spineless Opuntus 



It should be understood that the new varieties 

 of Opuntias, while as a whole they may be 

 regarded as constituting a new species, are individ- 

 ually comparable to the different recognized varie- 



[210] 



