Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-11-04
USE FOR THE DESPIsED CACTUS.

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Of the exhibit of various articles at
the Worlds fair, manufactured by a
Tempe firm, the Scientific American has
the following:
About a thousand different species of
Cactaceae have been found, mainly in
habitants of the new world. They
abound in the dry regions of tropical
America, and certain varieties are widely
distributed through the southern parts
of the United States. Transplanted to
Europe, some Of the opurti have
fiourished along the Mediterranean,
almost as freely as if Indigenous Many
varieties of the cactus family are ad-
mired for their singulaTly twisted stems,
tufts of sharp spines, formidable thorne,
outright flowers. For this reason they
are favorite objects in conservatives.
The more thorny kinds are planted as
mpenetr able hedges around houses in
Mexico and South America. The
fruits, especially of the opuntias, are
edible, and are better known as prickly
pears, or Indian figs. The turnip-like
roots of the giant mescal are roasted by
the Indians, and from the juices of the
same favorite Indian drink is made.
But until recently it was thought that,
aside from the above uses, the cactus
was a sad cumberer of the ground, with
very few redeeming qualities.
1t has long been known that woody
axis grew under the thick, fleshy stems
of the cactus, sometimes quite compact
in substance, and again with large
round or oval openings. The wood of
the growing plant has soft and worth
less fiber; but from the stems of dead
plants, as found oD the plains, the Mexi-
cans have been accustomed to make
canes, which they have sold to tourists
as souvenirs.
This has suggested to an enterprising |
Arizona firm the idea of manufacturing |
art ware and small articles of furniture |
factories are located at Tempe and |
Phoenix, and the manufactured pro-
ducts are exhibited for the first time |
in the department of the Liberal Arts at |
the Columbian exposition. A medal and |
diploma have been awarded for the |
novelty of the material and superiority |
OF the work shown. Ny attention was
called to it by the presence of an ad- |
miring crowd, among whom were men,
bers of the Swiss commission, who
stated that it would be difficult to find, |
amid all the many articles of hand |
carved ware exhibited from Europe, any |
SO intricately and perfectly ornamented |
as were here to be seen in the handi- |
work of natures carving. Some of the
daintiest art wrae imaginable is made |
from the lace-like fiber of the nopal |
(Opuntia englemanii.) Sheets of it |
are steamed and pressed under heavy
steam rollers. The result is natural
filigree, very delicate in appearance, but
extremely strong. What most excited |
were the choice veneers
made fr%m both the boards and the |
filigree fiber, and which have advantages |
over every other kind of veneer
known. Being porous. the sub
stance can be filed in with any
desired art color or tinted cement. When |
subsequently polished the effect is
indescribably beautiful. This fact
enables the expert cabinetmaker to
match his veneers to any interior
decorations or furniture upholstering.
No other kind can have its original
color permanently changed without
making it seem tswdry or cheap. This
evidently opens rare possibilities of fine
artistic establishment.
Among exhibited articles OF cactus
ware were canes, napkin rings, pick |
holders, smokers sets, match safes, |
and numerous other interest |
ing small articles. But the novel
material is by no means limited to such |
minor objects. Elegant stands, tables,
easels, music racks, stools, fire screens,
hat racks, and mantelpieces were shown |
as proofs of what could be done with |
the once-despised cactus. In picture
frames remarkably pleasing effect was
produced by showing the filigree work
over silk, and worker in silver fligree |
his opinion that the costly |
wares and ornaments of that metal
could be admirably initiated by suitable
of the vegetable fi!igree and
plating it with silver.