Books and Current Literature 



95 



The Western Empire. 



Being ever alert to the best interests of its subscribers and readers 

 and realizing the great value of this fodder in supporting a family 

 cow on one-tenth the space required for alfalfa as demonstrated in 

 this year's practical field trials and also the intense and national in- 

 terest that the Luther Burbank Cactus Experiments have aroused 

 and furthermore appreciating that this is no doubt the coming Fod- 

 der plant in many localities has secured the distribution of this sea- 

 son's supply of the hardy standard varieties, propogated and dis- 

 tributed by Mr. Burbank, with his prediction that they will yield 

 100 tons of cattle and poultry feed per acre. 



This means enough fodder for the family cow on the rear end of a 

 town lot. 



These Plants Weigh an average of one Pound. 



And costs One Dollar each, express paid. Orders will be filed in the 

 rotation received and until the stock is exhausted. 



Each Order Will Include 



A two years' subscription to the Western Empire for the reason that 

 we intend to collate and publish the actual results attained in all 

 districts where this fodder cactus may be grown and in this way 

 will keep all those fully informed who are assisting us in carrying 

 on these experiments. 



No use applying for more than one plant. No attention paid to such 

 letters. 



Address Cactus Culture Editor, 207 Times Block 



While this kind of literature is being cheerfully eireulatep 

 throughout the United States by interested parties, it can hardly 

 cause surprise that a puzzled and sceptical feeling, particularly 

 on the part of people who are constitutionally conservative with 

 regard to things American, should here and there find expression. 

 At a recent meeting of the German Cactus Society reported 

 in the first number of the Monatsschrif t fur Kakteenkunde, 

 January, 1909, a paper was presented on The Plant Wizard and 

 His Satellites, in which a caution is given against the "charla- 

 tanical advertisements of the American Burbank, who is en- 

 gaged in the breeding of new forms of a great variety of cultivated 

 plants, the small value of whose productions, in comparison with 

 the great sums asked, has been repeatedly pointed out. One 

 of these productions is an Opuntia, which, according to Mr. 

 Burbank, ought to be famous for opening to cultivation regions 

 that are now lying fallow on account of sterility. Not only is 



