West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-08-09
Amons the Giant Cacti.

hesumlhS our journey in New Mex
leo we soon entered the land of giant
cacti, Was never more surprised than
at seeing the wonderful development of
this plant In this region. Am satisfied
that nowhere In the world such size Is
attained. The specie called Swatara
grows To the enormous height of sixty
feet and measures six feet I'm diameter.
Vhore are tens of thousands of this
specie. Most of them will measure
from eight inches Ia two feet I'm diam
eter and reach n height of twenty to
thirty fcot. Some have no limbs and re-
semblc high post; others have from
one to three arms. They seem TO stand
on the top of the sand, with scarcely
any root, and must receive their nu-
triton largely from the atmosphere.
They are capped with beautiful flow
er and then with fruit. The Indians
remove the fruit with n long spike pole
and used IL In large quantities. The
centre Of this cactus Is pierced with n
hard, tough rod, which supports It In
times of storm. SO firm Is this support
that one Is seldom found broken or
blown To the earth. When In state of
decay you can extract the center of sup
port, which resembles more than any
thing else "A tishing rod. There are
hfteen OF twenty different species OF
cactl growing IN this region. The pole
cactus grows much like large corn
stalk. Each years growt tn is indicated
by joint, and rich tenacious gum
exudcs from the surface, causing IL to
burn like pine when IL Is entirely
green. There are two varieties of what
Is called the bulb. These grow i'm the
form of "A ball and nearly the size of
pint cup. The one variety Is armed
with thorns half an inch i'm length, the
other with IA different kind of thorn,
much resembling and about the length
ofa porcupinc's quill. These thorns are
IA sharp as needles, and require but
little pressure To penetrate their entire
length into the foot Of "a man or the
hoof of "A horse. THERE'S strong, tall
bird on these plains called the road
runner, so-called because IL IL very
fleet of foot and frequently runs on the
road, before the stage. 1t is the nat
ural enemy of the tarantula and rattle
snake, and when IL finds either of
these animals asleep il surrounds the
unconscious creature with wall or
hedge of this prickly plant, and then,
To awake II. trOws one over on It's body.
The animal writhing in pain, attempts
TO escape, but In the effort meets ter
riblc death. The variety having the
short thorns bears rcd-colored fruit,
about the Size of II small peach il is
very sweet and the juice flows from
gold pen as beautiful red ink. There
Is another species which bears differ
ent kind Of fruit resembling "A cucum-
bcr about twO-thirds matured. The
pulp Is of the consistency of the ban
ana, but much swecter and very full
of black, Hat seeds, the size of dime.
AS far as have been able To ascertain
there are three kinds Of fruit growing
on as many different species of cacti In
this desert land. Another kind, priced
very much resembles our century plant
The wild Apaches have for ages de-
pended largely on this sustenance.
They boil the root, make it into mush,
and thus eat it and from the balance of
the plant make a sour drink, which
they greatly enjoy. Much more might
be said of this interesting plant, but 1
VIII return TO our line of travel. As
the sun ascends toward the meridian
the heat becomes intense. The Their
mometer In these valleys stands part
of the day az l29 degrees. Our can
teens are often pressed to our lips, and
we saturate handkerchief with cold
water and lay IL upon the top of the
head, and, laying aside our hats, com
NIT ourselves To the cooling effects OF
the evaporation. Thus the tourist may
save himself from sunstrokc or brain
fever.