59 



3191. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From Taormina, Sicily. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899. 



This and Nos. 3192 and 3193 are varieties growing along the roadside on Taormina. 

 The plants are nearly spineless, but nothing could be determined as to the character 

 of the fruit. 



3192. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From Taormina, Sicilv. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899. (See No. 

 3191.) 



3193. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From Taormina, Sicily. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899. (See No. 

 3191.) 



3194. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From the Botanic Gardens, Catania, Italy. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 

 1899. 



This and the following number are specimens of the spineless cactus growing near 

 Bronte, on the western slopes of Mount ^Etna. Nothing could be determined as to 

 the character of the fruit. 



3195. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From the Botanic Gardens, Catania, Italv. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 

 1899. 



The same as No. 3191. 



3196. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From the Aderno, Sicilv. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, 1899. (See No. 

 3194.) 



3197. Zea mays. Corn. 



From Norfolk, Va. Received through Capt. John Wallace, May, 1899. 



Virginia horse tooth. "The home of this kind of corn seems to be the district of 

 seacoast from the capes of Virginia to Hatteras, N. C. , and running west not over 40 

 or 50 miles. Whether the soil and climate of other sections suit it as well I can not 

 say from experience. By far the greater part that is raised to sell is shipped to 

 Europe, mainly to Germany. It is used there for ensilage, and so is not allowed to 

 come to maturity, even if the seasons would permit. It probably requires too long 

 a season for their climate, and would for our Western corn States, but for ensilage it 

 might do, it would seem, for any section of our country. The stalk is large and the 

 blades heavy. It grows very tall, 10 to 15 feet, and generally with but one ear, 

 though we are getttng two ears by selection. Both stalk and grain contain more 

 saccharine than in any other kind, except sugar corn, of course, and the ensilage is 

 said to be more nutritious than that made from common yellow and white Western 

 corn. 



" Well-drained black land, on which the growth was large black gum, cypress, and 

 poplar, is the best suited for horse tooth corn. This land will bring 60 to 80 bushels 

 to the acre when first cleared, and when well limed will keep up to 50 bushels, but 

 finally settles to from 30 to 40 bushels per acre, though it would easily run up to 60 

 to 80 bushels again if grass and potatoes were rotated and the manure which should 

 come from feeding stock was used. 



" We cultivate in the drill rows 4 to 4| feet apart and the stalks 20 to 30 inches 

 apart in the rows. We have to use the plow in cultivation and weed with hoes, 

 because the grass grows so fast that the Western plan of using the harrow and culti- 

 vator would not keep down the weeds. It might be planted in squares and this flat 

 cultivation used as well as with other corn, but two stalks left to the hill instead of 

 three or four would be "better. 



"This should certainly make good corn for canning in the roasting-ear stage. The 

 ears are large and the grains so long that it w T ould yield so much more than ordinary 

 corn. Its flavor is excellent, and a little sugar added when eaten would make it 

 equal to the best sugar corn. " (John Wallace.) 



