11 



from a report by Mancuso-Lima, shows this striking difference in composition of the 

 pulp of the first and second crop of prickly pears: 



Comparison of first and second crop fruits. 



First-crop fruits (Agos- 



tani). (100 parts of 



fruit contain 57.60 parts 



pulp.) 



100 parts of 



fruit 

 contain — 



100 parts of 



pulp 

 contain — 



Second-crop fruits 



(scoccolati). (100 parts 



of fruit contain 63.19 



parts pulp. ) 



100 parts of 



fruit 

 contain — 



100 parts of 

 pulp 



Water 



Drv matter 



Fat 



Sugar 



Starch and dextrin 



Total nitrogen 



Proteid nitrogen . . . 

 Albuminous matter 

 Ash 



53. 510 

 4.060 

 .043 

 2.892 

 .098 

 .046 

 .034 

 .211 

 .146 



92. 951 



7.049 



.074 



5. 020 



.058 

 .366 

 .253 



57. 006 



6.184 



Trace. 



3.540 



1.701 



.155 



.111 



.693 



.209 



90.214 



9.786 



Trace. 



5. 602 



2. 692 



.245 



.175 



1.097 



.331 



"This operation of forcing a second crop of prickly pears which are of a superior 

 quality should certainly be tested in this country wherever prickly pears can be 

 grown. 



' ' The following varieties were donated by Professor Borzi, the director of the Botanic 

 Garden at Palermo, and include those most commonly cultivated. In addition to 

 these three varieties there is another of some interest which has no seeds. It is, how- 

 ever, not very fruitful and is very rarely cultivated, for which reason it was not 

 possible to secure plants. Another variety, which has not been named, grows about 

 Aderno on the southwestern slopes of Mt. iEtna. This variety produces a very supe- 

 rior quality of fruit, which may, however, be due to the special character of the vol- 

 canic soil in which it grows. This may be the plant obtained from the Botanic Gar- 

 den of Catania and sent out under the number 3196. All of the improved varieties 

 of prickly pear have spineless pads, and can be used for feeding stock. They may 

 prove of great importance for the arid regions of the Southwest as forage. 



" 3437. Sanguineo (Ficudinnia sanguigna) . This variety has, as its names indi- 

 cates, red fruits. It ripens later than two following numbers, some- 

 times so late that it does not mature well about Palermo. (See No. 

 3190, Inventory No. 7.) Distributed. 



" 3438. Alba (Ficudinnia muscaredda) is one of the commonly cultivated varie- 

 ties. It ripens early and is of good flavor. Distributed. 



" 3439. Ordinario (Ficudinnia mrfarina?) . This is doubtless the yellow vari- 

 ety which is most commonly cultivated in Sicily. It is considered 

 the best variety of all because it fruits so abundantly, and at the 

 same time bears fruits which are very sweet and of good quality." 

 (Swingle. ) Distributed. 



3440. Opuxtia labouretiaxa. 



Prickly pear. 



From Palermo, Sicilv. Donated by Professor Borzi, director of the Botanic Gar- 

 den of Palermo, through Mr. W. T. Swingle, May, 1899. 



"This species is also cultivated at Palermo for its edible fruit. There are said to 

 be two varieties of this species — one with white and the other with red fruits. It is 

 not known which was obtained under this number. This is considered by Schumann 

 to be a form of Opuntia lanceolata from South America." (Swingle.) Distributed. 



3441. Opuxtia tuxa. Prickly pear. 



From Palermo, Sicily. Received through Mr. W, T. Swingle, May, 1899. 



"Ficudinnia tincimssu, a very spiny sort widely grown in eastern Sicily. The edi- 

 ble fruits are small and of medium quality, but are produced at all seasons of the 



