THE THORNLESS EDIBLE CACTUS 
the cactus, even in its wild and defiant shape, 
had certain unquestioned excellencies. It 
was undeniably hardy; it would grow and 
thrive where nothing else would, welcoming 
the blistering heat of the desert and growing 
powerful where rain seldom falls. It had much 
that was nutritious, both in its thick thalli, or 
leaves, and in its golden or crimson fruit. 
Wherever it had been given a chance away 
from its desert home and under more favor- 
able conditions, it had shown phenomenal 
thrift. It was not one of those plants which 
will not bear transplanting from a wild to a 
civilized state. 
Two main obstacles had first to be removed 
—the countless thorns upon the cactus, cover- 
ing branch and leaves and fruit, and the 
spicules of the leaves, the woody fibrous skele- 
tons of the thalli which made them more or less 
indigestible. These overcome, there remained 
the development of the fruit and the fitting of 
the leaves to be a food, food even for man as 
well as beast. 
All this he has accomplished,— nothing 
more marvelous has ever been done in plant 
life. It would be exceedingly difficult to say 
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