THE PRICKLY-PEAR COCHINEAL (ITS UTILIZATION FOR DESTROYING CACTUS IN SOUTH INDIA)

Abstract

The Prickly-Pear. The prickly-pear-the familiar thorny hedge of fields in most parts of our province, is a Mexican cactus introduced about two or three centuries ago into India in an endeavour to cultivate the valuable cochineal insect of commerce. Owing to want of technical know- ledge, however, the wrong species of cacti were. imported; and the conse quence was that the true cochineal insect could not be grown, while the prickly-pear plants could establish themselves and flourish by reason of the ease with which they could take root. The pears have now spread through- out the land, planted, in the first instance, as a live fence in cultivated fields, and later on, escaping into uncultivated land and pastures. Though serving as a cheap and efficient hedge-plant, experience has shown that, unless periodically cut back, the cactus can become an unmitig- ated nuisance, especially around village sites, giving shelter to various reptiles and vermin and making the surroundings not only ugly but also insanitary. In a great many places, therefore, in the Madras Presidency there has been a keen demand for cheap and efficient methods for its destruction. 2