, 1892-10-01
THE P~RICKLY-PEAR PLANT.

AlAIClCobAhS' II 1Onb uIHIOuIlSlA@ O'JNN'f
the stones under our feet or the commoneSt
weeds of our gardens, become interesting as
soon as we know something about them and
the more we know the more interesting they
become. This is quite obvious truth to some
people, but there must be many others to
whom it is by no means obvious. If il we Q,
we should not hear so much Of that rather
foolish question: is life worth living?'
1t would be seen that life could be kept full
Of interest under almost all circumstances and
in all places. Even q desert would furnish
plenty Of subjects for study to one. whose
mind had experienced the delight of acquir-
ing knowledge Of the common objects around
him, and q much smaller island than Santa
Cruz would afford pleasant occupation for o
life time. We have been led to these refec-
tons by something which we have recently
read about a common plant OF the West Indies,
of frequent occurrence III the eastern portion
Of this island, aud looked upon fer the most
pant as a nuisance. namely the prickly-pear
plant or common opuntia. Ii a copy Of a re-
cent issue Of the st. Vincent Sentry, kindly
placed at our disposal, we find a notice to the
effect hat this plant, which has been intro
duced into the Cape Colony, is spreading there
50 fast, under the encouragement of the dry
climate, that application has been made to the
80 49, XIV " AIh't CtAtB bAA 0N9 NANAA
Consul IN Mexico, how the natives keep down
the plant here. THE Consul replies that
they do not keep it down at all in Mexico.
and goes on TO say that without this gift Of
Providence'' it would be impossible to cross
the northern deserts Of that country that
after the pickles are burnt Of it affords both
food and moisture to the animals, and is CON
sequently regarded as a great boon. Such is
the Con8uIs reply, and it Is worth some
attention That the animals eat the So
called leaves Gin reality the plant stsms)
of the cactus so readily, after the prickles
are burnt off, shows us at once why
it is provided with prickIes. In its desert
home, where food IS very scarce, it would
quickly become eysincr if it were not SO pro-
vided. That its home is desert explains also
the meaning OF the heshy character Of its
stems and their ability to retain a considerable
portion Of moisture. These constitute the
savings bank of the plant, in which it ac-
cunuIates during the short spells of favoura-
biz weather the capital on which 1t has Ito
draw during the long periods of dlo'ght. That
the prckly pear plant Is at home IN a dry land
is shewn here by its greater abundance in the
eastern part of the island, and especially on
the southern side Of that part, than anywhere
else. IN very dry seasons it has been used
just as II is in Mexico, and we remember hay
ing seen cattle at the East End eating with
the greatest eagerness the half roasted green
stems from which III, prjckles had been burnt
off. Some lime after Co.umbus's discovery
ofthe New World, the prickly pear Cprcsuma-
bly, the same species as oursJ was introduced
intosoutheIh Europe, and now grows abundant
y Oh all he dry and rocky shores Of the Medi-
terIanean. According to an article which ne
recently met with, the nat yes Of Algeria feed
their stock on the stems, which they give to
the animals after hacking eff the thorns. II
this statement is corn ect. it would seem that
the AlAeIians have rather a clumsy and waste
full mode Of treating the plant compared with
the plan adopted in its home and IN this is
land. We are not, Of course, advocating the
cultivation Of the prickly-pear in Santa Cruz.
Il is to lie hoped that the island will neNe be-
come SO dryas to make>the use OF this curious
plant necessary to any great extent. At the
same time we may use il in hedges or allow 1t
to occupy rocky corners where nothing else
Will grow, with the satisfaction Of remember
ing that in an extremity 1t may become a
friend, contributing It's mite to tiding over a
critical time.
The plant presents other points of interestto
any careful observer. lie large HuHcIs
which are borne on variors parts Of the stem,
are gay yellow, or sometimes salmon-coloured,
to attract the insects which ale to convey the
pollen Of the antherS from flower to flower
nnd +bus To securp their fprtihsatiOu The