OPUNTIA FRUIT AS FOOD. 



467 



9. Epiphylltini, Pfeiffer ("upon a leaf"). Species 3, 

 Brazilian, 



10. Rhipsalis, Geertner ("willow branch"). Figs. L 

 and M. 



It is divided as follows into sub-genera ; 



1. Eurliipsalis. 



2. Lepisinium. 



3. Hariota. 

 Pfe.ffa-a. 



The last three names were formerly used for distinct 

 genera. The species of rhipsalis number about 30, of 

 which one is native to southern Africa, Mauritius and 

 New Zealand. The remainder occur in tropical America. 



11. Nopalea, Salm-Dyck ("Nopal," Mexican name 

 for cactus). Fig. B . 



Species 3, in Mexico, West Indies and South America. 

 Nopalea coccinellifcra is cultivated for the rearing of the 

 cochineal insect. It is native to the West Indies. 



12. Opuiitia, Miller ("Opus," an ancient city). Figs. 

 /, F, PP, R, T. 



About 150 species are described. They inhabit North 

 America from Canada to the tropics. 



13. Pi'reskia, Miller (named for Nicholas F. Peiresk). 

 Fig. /. 



About a dozen species occur in tropical America. 



OPUNTIA FRI 



A NOVEL AND ATTR.VCT 



WHEN we reflect that the tomato, now one of 

 the most common vegetables, was cultivated 

 only as an ornamental plant within the 

 memories of many people now living, and 

 that the now universal potato was formerly 

 regarded as a noxious herb, the prediction that prickly 

 pears, or opuntia fruits, will become popular when 

 the better sorts are known, does not seem unreasonable, 

 when applied to the warmer parts of the temperate 

 zones. It is true that both the potato and the tomato are of 

 tropical origin ; but we cultivate them as annuals, while 

 no annual form of fruit bearing cactus has yet been 

 found. Where they are now cultivated for eating, their 

 perennial nature is a valuable characteristic ; for the 

 fruit forms and grows slowly after the blossom wilts, 

 and in many instances, remains on the plant until the 

 following spring, when it ripens at a most desirable time. 

 The mature fruit remains perfect a long time, and is firm 

 and hard enough to be easily marketed. The cactus is 

 a profitable and valued crop in Mexico The fruits 

 vary in size, some being small like a robin's egg, and 

 some as large as the egg of a turkey. They also vary in 

 color, having all the shades of yellow and orange, often 

 scarlet on one side, and the deepest crimson or lake. 

 The juice of some sorts is especially fine in color, a 

 quality which it imparts to jellies made from the fruit. 



In Mexico the fruit is known as the tuna, and must 

 not be confounded with the inferior opuntia fruit, which 

 is the only sort known to many. When the different va- 

 rieties become known, and each receives a name to dis- 

 tinguish it, they will be better appreciated. 



Scarcely a plant known requires so little care in culti- 

 vation, and is so indifferent to the soil, provided it is 

 well drained ; but it is partial to either sand or gravely 

 When the fruit is ripe the fine spines upon its surface 

 are readily removed by wiping or brushing the fruit 

 For this purpose a bunch of grass is usually employed 

 by the Mexicans. Care must be exercised in gathering 

 the fruit. Either a pair of wooden tongs is used, or the 

 fruit is cut off with a long-handled knife, and then picked 

 up from the ground. Removing the skin from the fruit 



JIT AS FOOD. 



IVE KIND OF POMOLOGV. 



is somewhat difficult for the beginner, but dexterity is 

 soon acquired. A thin slice is cut from each end of the 

 fruit, and the skin, after being cut through from end to 

 end, is readily removed. The fruit, if kept cool before 

 being served, is much more delicious. The flavor has 

 been compared to that of a watermelon flavored with 

 strawberry. It is regarded as an especial delicacy of 

 the breakfast table, and is relished by strangers and*" 

 natives alike. It is now often found for sale in the mar- 

 kets of the large cities in the United States, but it is 

 either bought as a curiosity, or used to give variety to 

 fancy baskets of fruit. When it becomes abundant it 

 will be utilized for its good qualities. The cultivation 

 of the cactuses is so simple, usually being nothing more 

 than the first planting, and its annual supply of fruit is 

 so regular, that it strongly recommends itself to people 

 with more land than time to devote to fruit raising. 



Fig 00. A Seedlin<, Phvllocactus. 



When hybridizers cross the hardy prickly pear [Opuntia 

 vulgaris) with some of the large-fruited southern sorts, 

 we are likely to obtain truly valuable additions to our 

 northern fruits. None of the opuntias are especially 

 delicate or sensitive to cold. 



Neiii York. Walter Dalton. 



