The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-14
CACTUS-CENI URY PLANT.

these two plants But, excepting that both
are succulent plants deriving their subsistence
from the atmosphere, they have nothing more
, in common than belong to the vegetable king
dom. These mistakes are very general, and
the latter plant is often called the American
aloe, when it is not, even botanically speak
ing, an aloe. The proper name is Agave
Americana, and is no more a cactus than q
magnolia is a camelia
Botanically-the Cactus belongs. according
to the Linnaan system, to class 1cosandrls,
order Monogynia, while the Agave is class
Hexandria, order Monogynia.
We have often heard other succulent plants
as Crassulas, Mesem byanthemums, Calcalias
Stapelias and others called by the unlearned
Cactus. The Cactus tribe which, after an
hundred years sitting by botanists have been
reduced to about SIX subdivisions which are
so different in appearance as scarcely to be
credited by the unskillei, require much faith
on his part to reconcile his belief that they
are of the same family. They are only held
together by the same common inforescence.
Thus the Cactus Opuntia or common Pricsly
Pear is totally unlike the Cactus Melocactus or
Turks Turban. Cactus Mammillaris and G.
Giganteus, or the Cactus Flabeliform;s and
Cactus Echinocactus and Cactus Grandifora
and Cactus Quadrangularis. The tribe has one
popularity, and there are very fe plants which
have its representatives or scattered over the
globe. They are confined to the Western
Hemisphere as the Ericas are to the Eastern.
What strikes one not we'll versed in
Natures kingdom of flowers, is the
remarkable diversity of form which pervades
this genus. Oae would never say that there
was relationship between the pappile-like
humble Mammillaris, sometimes only one
fourth of an inch long, and the monstrous,
huge, candelabra-like Csreus Giganteus, forty
feet high-the broadlelved Opnntia, like a
nishapen shoe sole, an Tie globular, turban-
formed melocac .us-the graceful c. Peres-
kia, the only one with leaves, and the pretty
INTERVENING Cactus Flabelliformis, or whip
shaped, and the pillar-like G. Hexangularis,
the running Triangularis, and last, most glo-
rious member of the family, the Cactus Grandi-
difora, whose lavished beauty and evanescent
Towering is an apt type of human life and
prospects, which, bright and brief, pass, in
few and short hours, away.
Not to be technically scientific, as We are
writing for the general reader, we shall omit
botanical characteristics and physiological
description of the adaptation of thetissues and
absence of absorbents etc., which fit
this class for the purpose intended by |
natures God, in dry and sterile regions. We
would say that it grows in all soils from
the rich alluvion OF. Louisiana; crevices in |
lava beds furnish places for insertion of
the roots of some species and by disinte- |
grating il from soils for other plants, |
the waterless arid regions furnish others with |
plant which contains pure and insipid |
liquor which supports animal life OAR
win found in the Galapagos the famous huge
land tortoise which derives its supply Of water
from one of the family in the sterile region of |
those islands.
The plant has its uses in commerce, two
species Cactus Tuna and Cactus Cochinelli-
fera furnishing the food for the famous CO.
clinical insect, whose beautiful red dye fur
nishes occupation and profit for many. The
Cactus Tuna is not so rich in food as the Cochi-
nillifera; this last abounds in Central Amer ca
in the regions of Chiaka, Guatemala, Oxaca,
etc. The red flower on the top of the fruit
when ripe falls down upon it and covers
it SO that no rain or dew can fall upon it to
wet the inside. In few days the flower being
scorched by the heat of the sun the fruit o pens
wide and is found full Of small red insects.
The Indians, when they perceive the fruit
to be open, spread a large linen cloth, and
then with a stick shake the plant to disturb
the insects so that they take wing to be gone,
but keep lowering over it till by the heat of
the sun they fall down dead upon the cloth,
where they are allowed to remain tive or three
days until well dried. They are then packed
for market.
This industry is now nearly ended, as the
discoveries of chemical science have brought
forth rivals in the aniline dyes. Before the
war we recollect seeing it stated that from the
United States alone 100000 was the amount
paid for this dye.
These plants are easily cultivated, most of
them requiring very little prote ,tion and care
in the few cold days and nights We have in
this climate, doing we'll out of DOORS They
are easily propagated, a joint broken off, the
wound allowed to dry and placed in dry sandy
earth; sometimes in dry sand alone they
easily take root They are also easily grated,
a slip made in one of the branches and q
small piece inserted therein and secured by
thorn or bound to hold it in position and it is
done, and aft ,rds as in the case Of the hybrid
varieties of Cactus Speciosus or Speciocis-
sinus an opportunity of having variety of
different colored flowers on the same plant.
This division some years ago was very FASH
ionable as parlor plants, finding the warmth
of the drawing quite sufficient
OF the Grandifora, whose wonderful and &C.
centric properties every one has read of if not
seen, how shall it be described? Preferripg
the night to display its beauty, and coquet-
ishly increasing our admiration for it by the
brief time it shows its short-lived charms it
is wonder. 1t opens after dark, is in its
prime at midnight, and closes before day,
and then after brief reign of glory is seen
no more.
The Administration has made an ostenta-
tious display of its refusal to send troops on
the requisition of Ames of Mississippi, as