THE FODDER PLANT FOR ARID REGIONS. 
9 
THE KINDS TO CULTIVATE 
As Food for Farm Animals and Poultry. 
SPINELESS OPUNTIAS ARE SURE AND HEAVY CROPPERS 
PART TWO. 
Descriptions of Some of the Best Varieties. 
I T HAS been found necessary to give some appropiate name to those not having any, 
as otherwise confusion would reign supreme and no satisfactory classification or 
description could be given for the guidance of planters. 
This list includes nearly all of the older Opuntias well tested on my grounds which seem 
to be of unusual promise agriculturally or horticulturally. Hundreds of other varieties 
have either not been fully tested, have been received under several names or have 
not proved themselves of value equal to those here described. Many so-called “thorn¬ 
less” ones have been received which were far from being of any value except as freaks. 
Life is too short to be constantly under the surgeon’s knife for the removal of spines. 
THE BEST OF THESE IMPROVED SPINELESS OPUNTIAS WHEN GROWN 
UNDER FAVORABLE CONDITIONS ON GOOD CULTIVATED SOIL IN A WARM 
CLIMATE MAY CONFIDENTLY BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ONE HUNDRED 
TONS OF FEED PER ACRE EACH SEASON. 
The Tuna and Ficus inclica classes are without doubt from the same original source, 
the Ficus indica class being only a more thoroughly domesticated one having been more 
carefully cultivated and selected. For convenience classed as “Barbary figs” ancl“ Tunas.” 
The selection of Opuntia cuttings is of importance. Those who have grown them on the 
shores of the Mediterranean for hundreds of years always select “bearing wood” if fruit is 
the object, and the least thorny and bristly leaves if a plantation is to be produced for 
forage. Some of the partially spiny ones may be made almost wholly so by careful selec¬ 
tion of cuttings. 
ANACANTHA (U. S. 3423.) (Ficus indica class.) 
This variety has been received from many sources under the name given above, and 
several others. It is on the whole nearly or quite the best of all of the older varieties for 
stock feed; a tremendous grower rapidly producing great leaves two feet or more long by six 
01 eight inches wide, quite thick and often weighing six or eight pounds each, two or three 
ol the larger leaves being enough to feed a sheep a day. No bristles and only a few short, 
weak spines which can be eliminated by selection. Fruit late and sparingly produced, 
four and one-half inches long by two inches in diameter, greenish crimson, flesh light yellow, 
good quality. Seeds abundant but small, extensively grown in North Africa for forage. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.50: one hundred pounds, $12.00. 
