LUTHER BURBANK 



ing and store them in some cool place, either with 

 ice or in a basket of sea water, which is said to 

 improve the flavor of the fruit. Both wealthy and 

 poorer classes eat the fruit at each meal through- 

 out the season, according to my informer. So im- 

 portant is the cactus fruit regarded in Greece that 

 Professor Leotsakos assured me that he would 

 make haste on his return to communicate with 

 the Government officials, that they might at once 

 take steps to obtain my improved varieties for 

 planting; for, of course, no variety of cactus hith- 

 erto known approaches the new hybrid species in 

 quality or productivity. 



It appears that the cactus fruit is usually 

 known about the Mediterranean as the Indian Fig. 



In this country it has been commonly referred 

 to as the Prickly Pear. But now that the prickles 

 are marked for elimination, this name will cease 

 to be appropriate, and we may conveniently refer 

 to the fruit as a Cactus Pear, unless some more 

 distinctive name should be suggested. 

 Various Uses of the Fruit 



The juice of the crimson variety of the cactus 

 fruit is a brilliant carmine color that makes it 

 very valuable for coloring ices, cakes, and con- 

 fectionery. It is not only absolutely harmless but 

 positively nutritious and beneficial, and is sure 

 to gain popularity; taking the place of the arti- 



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