The times., 1901-03-24
WEALTH In DESERT PLAINS.
The Cactus That Grows Ina Arid
WiIdS Has Its Value.

arid plain which characterize certain
portions of the sections generally desig
mated as the Southwest is problem
that has long baffiessthe most ardent ex-
ponents OF desert reclamation. True,
thousands of acres of once utterly sterile
land In various portions OF the section
referred to have. through irrigation. been
transformed into regions of surprising
fertility. But such possibilities are COM
paratively limited, while beyond the
friendly water zones there stretch away
immense tracts. which. a familiar West
ern proverb declares. will raise nothing
but sand and cactus"
And yet that substantial profits may be
realized from the cultivation of cactus
and kindred desert products is being dem
onstrated in various other countries,
where the conditions affecting their
growth and the possibilities OF practical
utility are alike inferior 20 those offered
by this, their native cline. The species
of cactus indigenous TO the wilderness
districts OF New Mexico. Arizona. and
southeastern California are upward OF so
In number. the most common of which
are those known as the Cactus gigsnteus
and ODtuntia tuna.
The former Of these, as indicated by its
name, is monster variety, the elongated
ribbed branches of which reach to a
height of from 80 to So feet. The general
aspect of this desert prodigy Is grOtesqus
in the extreme it's lower branches rear
ing themselves aloft with symmetrical
stateliness. while those above reach
downward and outward, like the serpen.
tine arms of mammoth octopus. An
other specimen Of the giant cactus pre-
sents the appearance of a single tower
ing column, with perhaps a solitary alb
breviated branch near the apex, causing
it, from distance, to closely resemble a
telegraphic pole.
Recent experiments with the pulp yield
eel by the tough fibres of this species have
demonstrated that superior grade of
paper can be produced therefrom, and.
provided an adequate supply of the ma
teriaI can be developed at a much lower
cost than from Ingredients commonly in
use
The materials at present entering most
extensively into the manufacture of paper
in America are waste cotton and certain
wood fbres. The supply of such ingred-
tents. however, is by no means mex
haustible. According to the latest statis-
tics. there are at present operated in
various parts of the United States no less
than 1,231 paper mills, with a daily pro-
ducfng capacity of 209S6 ls0 pounds of the
perfected ware This enormous produc-
tion represents an increase of 295 per cent
within the last thirteen years. and. con-
sdering the rapid inrOads made on our
supply Of white spruce and poplar. the
necessity Of other material must eventu-
ally be manifested.
The present growth of cactus on our
great Southwestern plains. while extern
sive, is under existing conditions too scat
tering to form permanent source of sup
ply. but it is easy to cultivate it. In it's
wild state the mere falling of a detached
bulb on the arid sands is sufficient to en-
sure new plant In addition to its value
in purely mechanical sense. the giant
cactus produces in its season a delicious
fruit. the crimson pulp of which the In
dians of Arizona and New Mexico make
into preserves Of singular excellence.
more Immediately Fesourceful denizen
of the desert is the Yucca breyifolia. or
yucca palm, as it is Familiarity but erro-
neOusly called. This strangest Of trees is
principally indigenous to the great Mo-
1ave Desert. in southeastern California.
where 1t thrives abundantly. and with M
other nOurishment than Is afforded by ths
perpetual sunshine of that otherwise des-
olate region. In appearance the yucca
resembles somewhat "A seraggy oak en-
tirely destitute of verdure, but bearing at
the end Of each scraWny limb d curious
growth of bristling spines.
The principal popularity of the Yucca.
however, lies In the character of it's wood
which possesses no grain. but consists Of
an intricate and cOmpactly interviewer
mass of wood fibres. These fbres are spe-
cially adapted 10 the manufacture of a
comparatively indestructible grade of pa
per. such as is utilized in the printing
or bonds and other instruments requiring
extreme durability. Several years since
an English company made extensive pre-
parattons for the manufacture Of yucca
paper in southern California. TO be ex-
ported to the British Isles. but IL was
nnally decided that the transportation and
duties on the commodity. added TO the cost
Of producing were excessive. and the en-
terprise was abandoned. Had the venture
been dominated with the spirit of Ameri-
can perseverance and the product intend
ed for home consumption. there is reason
to believe the undertaking would have
proved a success. A local company of
only limited capacity is at present active
ly engaged in producing from yucca wood
a tough, hbrouS material, which IS Utiiiz-
ed Tor such purposes as bOOkbindlnS as
a substitute for felt. and for certain ac-
cessOries peculiar to the surgical science.
The product. when subjected TO special
treatment. is also extensively used as an
artificial roofing, its flexible character
admitting of its conformity 10 the antique
tiling effects so popular in architecture.
The method employed in producing this
species of yucca paper is unique in its
very simplicity, and consists merely in
placing the log in a rotary veneer lathe.
Wheft, bE means OF Keen EOTlGcuLdl
blade IL is literally drawn out into q
single continuous sheet. which may read
lily be cut with shears. but, singularly
enough Will neither break nor tear.
The cultivation of the Opuntid tuna Cac-
tus in the sterile foOthiil districts, where
it vegetables most prOfusely. offers a novel
inducement in the restoration to this con-
tinent of the valuable CCchneal industry
for which our climate is peculiarly adapt
ed. The native country of the cOchineal
is Mexico. but through sheer neglect the
industry has been largely absorbed by
South America and the Canary Islands.
whence comes the greater portion of the
supply. In rearing the cochineal insect
immense plantations OF the tuna cactus,
frequently representing $1,000 plants each,
are maintained. In addition TO the reFe-
nue. derived from the insects il nUrtures.
the fruit of the tuna, which is borne in
great prOfuSiOn, Yields a rich crimson pig
ment OF considerable value commercially.
This fruit, which Is commonly known as
the Indian fiS prickly pear, is highly
esteemed as an edible in southern Europe,
the Canaries and southern Africa, IL
which countries it constitutes an imp0r-
tant product. The fruit is also possessed
OF certain medicinal virtues. being freely
as q cooling drink In the
case of fever. and regarded valuable
remedy for the cure of ulcers.
The hardihOOd OF the tuna cactus is
quite as remarkable as that of its ele-
phantine cousin previously referred TO.
In the countries where its commercial
status is the highest, its cultivation is
often successfully carried on in districts
that have previously been absolutely in
cineTated by volcanic action. In such re-
giOns the planting of the shrub IS fire.
luenuy accomplished by merely thrust
nS one of the thOrny sprouts into a cleft
Of lava rock, from which position it
Iay-qinVg irr "a ii fro.