THE FODDER PLANT FOR ARID REGIONS. 
11 
MYERS. 
This extremely fine variety was discovered by Mr. Frank Myers in a garden near Trapuato, 
Mexico, and has never been known except in the garden where found. The plant is 
always absolutely free from even the least trace of spines and except in rare cases is 
totally free from bristles and these only on the old trunks. An upright but rather slow 
grower, leaves sixteen inches long by six wide, very thick and fat. Said to bear large, 
white, fine, sweet flavored fruit abundantly. The general appearance of the plant suggests 
that it may be a natural cross of the Tapuna and Ficus indica types. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $2.00; one hundred pounds, $15.00. 
MALTA (U. S. 9352) (Ficus indica class.). 
Received through my esteemed friend David G. Fairchild. A good, hardy, rapid grower 
Leaves medium size, eighteen inches long by eight wide, very few, short, weak, hair-like 
spines; bristles almost wholly absent. Fruit nearly four inches long by two in diameter. 
Skin yellow turning to light red when fully ripe, flesh salmon with crimson shadings, sweet 
and good but not of best quality. Bears abundantly even when quite young. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.50; one hundred pounds, $12.00. 
GYMNOCARPA (U. S. 12402) ( Ficus indica class). 
Extra good compact grower, bluish-green leaves eighteen inches long by nine wide and 
quite thick. Very few, small, weak spines and rarely any bristles. Fruit red, three inches 
long by nearly two and a half in diameter, free from bristles, flesh crimson, solid, meaty, 
superior quality. Promises to be one of the very best, for fruiting especially. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.50; one hundred pounds, $12.00. 
SKELLEY (Ficus indica class). 
Received from Mr. E. R. Skelley of Riverside, Cal., who imported it from Sicily in Oc¬ 
tober 1895. Strong compact grower of drooping habit; thornless except a few weak, hair¬ 
like remnants, almost no bristles. Leaves sixteen inches long by eight across, thick, pale 
green. Has not borne fruit here yet. Mr. Skelley informs me that it produces superior 
fruit and is extensively grown for food, being generally offered for sale throughout the 
Island in the markets. Mr. Skelley found it extensively grown on the bare lava of Mount 
Aetna without rain for months, “the trunks in some cases being larger around than a man’s 
body.” 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.50; one hundred pounds, $12.00. 
CORFU (Ficus indica class). 
Resembles the Skelley Opuntia very much in all respects, it is however not quite as 
strong in growth and has almost no spines and no bristles. Leaves fifteen inches long 
by eight wide; thick, pale green. This was imported by Mr. E. R. Skelley in 1899 from 
the Island of Corfu in the Adriatic where it has been extensively grown for several hundred 
years. Mr. Skelley writes that “the fruit is delicious.” Has not borne fruit here. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.50; one hundred pounds, $12.00. 
CATANIA (U. S. 3642) (Ficus indica class). 
From village near Catania, Sicily. Received by the Bureau of Plant Industry through 
Mr. W. T. Swingle, July, 1900. Said to be a very good fruiting Opuntia. Leaves eighteen 
inches long by eight wide, fairly thick, nearly spineless, bristles short, generally absent 
altogether. Strong grower, broad weeping habit, has not borne fruit here. 
Cuttings: Ten pounds, $1.00; one hundred pounds, $8.00. 
