On the Treatment of the Cactus Opuntia. 239 



that the plant in its wild state delighted in a dry soil amongst 

 rocks near the skirts of the sunny sides of the forests, I in 

 consequence planted it in the compost described below, 

 placed in a sheltered situation, open to the sun. 



The first plant that I turned out has lived in the open 

 ground of this country for six or seven years, during which 

 period it has endured one exceeding hard winter, and several 

 trying springs ; and in all, except the two first years, it has 

 never failed to ripen its fruit and seeds, so that it may be 

 now considered decidedly naturalized. It is now growing 

 vigorously ; and although the present season has been ex- 

 ceedingly unfavourable, yet I doubt not but it will produce 

 a plentiful crop of flowers, and ripen its fruit fit for the table 

 during the course of the next month. 



In countries where the fruit of this plant is abundant, it is 

 considered very wholesome ; the taste of it, however, is not 

 agreeable to all persons till after they have eaten it several 

 times, when they become very fond of it. 



The compost used by me for growing the Cactus Opuntia, 

 is the following : one half is carbonate of lime, for which 

 lime-rubbish from old buildings will answer; the remain- 

 ing half consists of equal portions of London clay and peat- 

 earth, having the acid neutralized by barilla : these are in- 

 timately blended and sifted. One square yard of this com- 

 post I conceive to be sufficient for one plant, which must 

 be placed in the middle of a small artificial hillock, raised 

 eighteen inches above the surface of the ground, which 

 ground should be rendered perfectly dry, if not naturally 

 so, by under draining. Neither the leaves, flowers, nor fruit 



vol. ii. Kk 



