Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-21

oie"i anu peausliul syrup, and from the
acre he planted he has realized over 500
gallons OF first class quality. 1t has a
color simisr to maple syrup, as also in
taste. and all who have examined it declare
but little difficulty would be experienced
In manufacturing sugar therefrom, as it
seems to possess an extra amount of sweet.
ness. The plant ia said not to be so sensitive
to frost as corn, and to possess all those
quantities which will adapt itself to our
soil. Its yield is enormous, if we take
captain Simmons experience as criterion.
The ORIGINAL STAR SPANGLED BAN
NER. Mrs. Margaret Sanderson, who
died in New York city recently, at the age
of So, was the lady who made the flag
which inspired Francis Scott Key to write
"The Star. spangled Banner" At the time
of the bombardment of Fort McHenry. in
1872, Mira. Sanderson, who was only Is
years old, made the flag out of costly silk
with her own hands, and presented it to
Colonel George Armstead, the commandant
of the fort, Just before the British ap.
peared in the bay. During the subsequent
engagement the flag fioated over the fort
and was seen by Key while confined in the
British man-of-war. After the war the
flag was returned to its maker, and the
original Star.spangled Banner is now one
of the treasures of the Sanderson family.
The State of Maryland has made several
unsuccessful efforts to buy the flag, but the
venerable lady could never be induced to
part with it. During the sesqui. centennial
celebration, in 1880, of the founding of Bal.
timore. special committee was sent to
New York city to induce Mrs. Ssnderson
to go to Baltimore with her flag and allow
it to be displayed in the procession.
Although a special car was placed at her
disposal, Mira. Sanderson, owing to feeble
health, could not go, but sent her flag in
stead, the historical fragments of silk being
placed in the special car In charge of de-
tective.
THE PRICKLY PEAR.-Few plants are
more widely diffused than those of the
cactus order. They are indigenous to
every warm climate, from the islands of
the Mediterranean to the great American
desert, and from the pampas of Buenos
Ayres to the Indian Archipelago. Their
varieties are endless, and many species are
turned to good account in the service of
humanity, but none is more generally
priced than the cdctdS opuntid, or prickly
pear. One large specimen OF tnls plant,
reached hight of nearly twelve feet, and
was sketched near the Mojave river, east
ern California. The tuna las it is called
by the Spanish Americans) is much valued
on account of its fruit, which, although Of
no decided flavor, is grateful to the palate
of the parched and thirsty travellers. This
fruit, called the Indian fig, is about the
size of a pigeons egg, and bristling with
reedle-hke prickles. These are gathered
by holding basket under the leaf from
which they grow, into which they arc
dropped bya dexterous sweep OF the knife.
The pulp is whitish in color, tender, and
slightly acid. In Mexico and South
America the succulent leaves are given to
| cattle as food, especially in time of
drought, having previously been stripped
of their prickly exterior, The Maltese
and Sicilian peasants are exceedingly fond
of tie fruit, and we can bear witness to its
pleasautness after a scorching gallop over
the bare rock that constitutes the Island of
Malta.-ESunday Magazine.