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The young *leaf-shoots" or branches of the “nopal,” as it is called 
in Mexico, are used here for various culinary purposes; they are gathered 
when quite young and tender, and the excrescences from which later on 
the prickles would develop are shaved off with a keen knife; they. are 
then boiled in water with a certain proportion of salt until well cooked, 
The sap of the leaves is used as a size to mix with lime for white- 
washing; the leaves are hacked with a knife, and then put into water for 
some time, this water being used for mixing with the lime ; it is excellent 
for the purpose named, quite equal to the ordinary glue. I believe a 
vegetable glue of good colour could be made from the plant. Being a 
very fibrous, glutinous plant, I see no reason why it should not be a good 
paper-making material. 
f its medicinal qualities I know little; personally I have used it 
occasionally as a poultice for wounds, and to relieve rheumatism. 
prepare the poultice the leaf is partially baked, or toasted in some way if 
an oven is not handy, then one of the outer side skins is taken off and 
the interior pulp minced with a knife and then applied. For a wound it 
can be uséd at an agreeable temperature, but for rheumatism it must be 
as hot as the patient can bear it. : 
All the above applies to the wild Prickly Pear ; the cultivated species 
while retaining the same properties have additional merits, although 
ite Prickly Pear, the fruit of which has an ‘agreeable acid 
The yellow, rather sweeter than the former. 
The crimson (Morada), large and small, quite sweet. 
The “'Tapona,” called so by reason of its costive effect when eaten in 
large quantities. 
The “Pelona” (naked—almost without prickles). There are two 
varieties of this species, producing yellow and crimson frui 
spectively. Of all the Prickly Pears this ts the great forage 
plant. It is almost without the objectionable prickles, and will 
ow in almost any climate if not damp; the leaves are the 
largest and thickest, and while the average weight of the full-grown 
leaves of other varieties is 3 lbs., the leaves of this variety will 
average 8 Ibs. 
The Prickly Pear is generally reproduced by means of the leaves, and 
as it is necessary to dry them a little before planting, they will stand 
a long transportation. 
In some parts of thé country a wine is made from the fruit; here in 
'Tulancingo a kind of sweet is made by squeezing the inside of the fruit 
through a cloth to extraet the juice, whieh is then boiled in the same 
manner as the juice of the sugar cane. 
One other species of the plant that I must mention before concluding 
is the “ Xoconostle,” the fruit of which makes a most delicious preserve. 
I feel sure it would “take” in England as it has that peculiar “foreign” 
flavour so much liked; it has a particular flavour of its own, as distinct 
from other jams as Indian Chutnee from the ordinary pickle of 
commerce, 
