LUTHER BURBANK 



they could be grown advantageously on lanu that 

 cost even one thousand dollars per acre. 



Analyses made by the Agricultural Department 

 of the State University of California have shown 

 that the new varieties greatly exceed the old ones 

 in nutritive qualities. Yet even the undeveloped 

 Opuntias have long been recognized, particularly 

 by the peoples of the Mediterranean, as having 

 high food value. 



The importance of the new plants as suppliers 

 of food for human beings, in regions subject to 

 occasional or habitual shortage, has been recog- 

 nized by several governments. 



The German Government in recent years has 

 tested the new Opuntias at several places in its 

 possessions in Africa. 



In parts of India where famines threaten and 

 from time to time destroy millions of people, the 

 spineless cactus is being planted for the purpose 

 of tiding the people over in the years of famine, 

 even if not used as a part of the regular dietary. 



The English Government is jesting the new 

 plants in Egypt and India. 



The plants have been sent to Australia. They 

 are also being tested in Argentina and in other 

 parts of South America. 



The new Opuntias differ from almost every 

 other plant, and may be said in a way to resemble 



[248] 



