THE PRICKLY PEAR PEST. 
(e) Chemical means of destroying the pear by spraying or other means. 
(f) Mechanical means of destroying the pear and the relative cost of 
these. Under this heading would be included not only the actual 
method but experiments with various designs of machinery and 
apparatus for dealing with the pear. Also included under this head- 
ing may come more perfect designs for sprays for applying chemical 
agents. The possible destruction of prickly pear by fire blasts 
may well be considered, especially by oil blasts such as are used 
in engineering workshops for melting metal. 
(g) Attempts to find a use for prickly pear in some way. Alcohol, fibre, 
and ash have all been thought of, but no practical method has as yet 
been evolved for successfully utilizing the pear for these purposes. 
It is possible that further endeavour may devise some means by 
which the cost of eradication can be lessened, to some extent, by 
some product being an off-set, and bringing in some return, 
We may conclude by stating in the most emphatic terms possible that it is 
absolutely essential, in the general interest, that the further progress of prickly 
pear should be immediately checked. Notification wtih an estimation of the 
degree of infestation seems advisable to enable this check to be imposed. All 
scattered pear should be immediately eradicated, and this can be done at trifling 
cost. A battery of scientific workers should be directed to attacking and over- 
coming the various scientific problems that are calling for prompt investigation 
and settlement. 
Nothing great in science has ever been done 
by men, whatever their powers, in whom the 
divine afflatus of the truth-seeker was wanting. 
— HUXLEY. 
