145 
and it is doubtful whether on this account alone it is worth while 
to stay the order for its destruction which has been issued by the 
exico, where hardly anything else than Prickly Pear will grow, 
Mr. Fletcher's account is very interesting. 
Foreign Orrice to ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. 
SIR, Foreign Office, June 8, 1892. 
I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to transmit herewith 
a despatch from Her Majesty’s Minister in Mexico, accompanied by a 
Report on the Prickly = in that — which may have some 
interest gd the authorities at Kew Gardens 
pers being sent in original; Tam ‘to irm that they may be 
fetnened to his Dotfrtnóüt when done w 
Iam, &c. 
(Signed) T. V. Lister. 
W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Esq., C.M.G., F.R.S., 
Kew Gardens. 
Her Magsesty’s Legation, Mexico, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Her Majesty’s ao Mexico, 
My Lorp Ma 18 
pue honour to acknowledge the receipt ‘of your mii 8- 
despatch of February 17, 1892, enclosing copy of a letter from 
the Aradeni of the Cape of Good Hope, CTE that se is anxious 
to obtain information respecting the Prickly rom o, where 
in certain distri pei he hears that it is used as food dor sto M. 
s my ow erience is confined to the refreshing qualities of the 
fruit, I applied to Mr. Fletcher, manager of the Atlan Land Company, 
for a report, and he has sent me one which I think contains all the 
equired. 
enclose an article on the subject, which originally appeared in 
Lamas! he tite and is copied into the Popular Science Monthly 
of New Yor 
e, &c. 
ime "Spenser Sr. Joun. 
The Marquis of os On K.G., &c., 
Foreign Office 
Mr. FLETCHER to Her Majestys Leaation, MEXICO. 
Tulancingo, State of Hidalgo, Mexico, 
SIR, May 12, 1892. 
ordance with your request I have the honour to forward 
to Your Excellency the following nd about the Prickly Pear. 
My experi 
ence is that the plant is almost invaluable in vá dry, and 
voee d sandy countries, where yan stretches have to be crossed by 
ox-teams and there is little or no water for man or beast. me years 
ago I was well icdualied with that almost desert country lying 
U 72026. D 
