A SPINELESS CACTUS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 8

A SPINELESS CACTUS.

The latest and one of the greatest achievements of the genius and patient work of Luther Burbank is tho spineless cactus or opuntia,-' which elicited. wonder and favourable comment at the meeting of the National Irrigation Congress in Sacramento last month. Burbank has sent a case of those spineless opuntias to tho California State Board of Trade, where it has been placed on exhibition with the Sonoma county display. The specimens show the cactus leaves in all the stages of ovolution from the wild plant full of thorns to the thornless leaf four times as large and licavy. It thrives well 011 the desert or on absolutely barren ground, whore nothing else will grow. In tlie evolution of the plant the percentage of water has been diminished and tho percentages of fibre, starch and fat largely increased. Analysis mado by Professor M. E. Jaffa, of the State University, shows tho Chico opuntia to contain: Water, 92.74; ash, 1.63; protein, 0.58; crude fibre, .75; starch, 4.06; fat, 0.19. The plants are used for hedges or fonccs and for ornaments. The loaves furnish food for all kinds of stock, including poultry. Tho fat young leaves make excellont pickles, and are good food when fried like ogg plant. They are also used as greens, and produce a gweet meat similar to preserved citron. Tho abundant mucilaginous juice from tho fruit and leaves is mixed with whitewash to mako it lasting when exposed to the weather. Tho leaves are admirably adapted for poultices and as a substitute for hot-water bags. The fresh fruit of the improved variety is uniquo in shape and colour, superior to tho banana in flavour, and is usually sold at the same price as oranges, and can be produced at one-lialf the expense of producing oranges, apricots, grapes, plums, or peaches; and there is never a failure in the crop, which can bo shipped as safoly as other deciduous fruits. The juice from the fruit jf tho.crimson variety is used for colouring icea, jelly, and confectionery.