CACTEiE, 
179 
b. Prickles short filiform ; some species wear- 
ly without them. 
3. Opuntia cochinillifera. Cochineal Plant. 
Erect, joints obovato-oblong sub-unarmed, flow- 
er connivent, stamens and style exserted. 
O. Indica major laevis spinosa vermiculos proferens. 
Pluk. Aim. 146. t. 281. f. 2. — Opuntia maxima, Sloane, 
II. 152. t. 8. f. 1. 2.. — Cactus brachiatus et articulatus 
subinermis. Browne, 267. — C. cochinillifera, Hooh'r, Bot. 
Mag. 2741. 2742. 
II A B. Dry localities, common. 
F L. After the May rains. 
Six feet or more in height. Flowers crimson, with 
the stamens and style protruding half an inch beyond 
the petals. This plant is indigenous to Jamaica as 
well as to the other intertropical regions of America. It 
is called by the French, “ RaqUette a chenille from the 
circumstance that this is the species from which the cochi- 
neal insect, coccus cacti, is principally collected. This 
insect, if it be that which is to be found on the Opuntia 
Tuna, does not arrive with us at perfection. The supply 
of cochineal is principally derived from Oajaca a district 
in Mexico, and from the interior of Gautemala and Costa- 
Rica. The insects are brushed off the plants by means 
of a deer or squirrels’ tail, are killed by the heat of boiling 
water, and then dried in the sun. It is important that the 
white powdery substance which covers them be retained. 
A brilliant scarlet dye is obtained from them, alumina and 
oxide of tin being employed as a mordaunt, and the bitar- 
trate of potash being resorted to for the purpose of exalt- 
ing the colour. It has long been regarded as a desidera- 
tum that the production of cochineal should be added to 
our staples for exportation. It is probable, even if the at- 
tempt were otherwise successful, that the quality would 
be inferior, and that our climate might prove unsuitable : 
also, the price of labour with us is too high to enable 
us to compete with those who are already in possession 
of the market. 1 may add that the true cochineal insect 
has been repeatedly introduced into this Island, but never 
with the desired results. 
I am of opinion that the insect does not acquire its per- 
fect growth in localities near the sea. lienee the supply 
