Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-31
535 z7s 5aka & 0nm1pa&1y seventh
Penna. Ave.


his collection. Prof Orcutt is now travel
ing in Mexico. picking up new varieties.
Mr.. Brandegee tells me that the cactus Is
purely American: that 1t Is not found be-
yond this continent. It does not appear in
Asia. Europe. Africa or Australia, although
many plants have been exported from the
United States and the South American re-
publics to Algiers. Egypt. India. Italy and
other countries along the Mediterranean for
the past hundred years. The conquistadores
shipped large numbers of plants to Spain
several centuries ago. and these have
spread over the peninsula. Old Mexico is
the home OF the cactus. and has larger
number of species than any other country
Arizona ranks next. with more than hum
dred species: then some of the Central and
South American countries.
Utilization of the Cactus.
Mr.. Brandegee does not know Of single
variety that may not be utilized in some
way for forage, human food, for fencing,
hedges. fiber or for manufacturing pur-
poses. Several varieties yield food which
make delicious preserves. 1t is Mr.. Bran
degees opinion that the cactus sucks it's
moisture from the atmosphere. and he
says that many varieties will not grow IL
their roots are wet. Water will kill them:
yet their leaves contain a large percent
age of moisture
Mr.. w. J. Gowan, superintendent OF
Eastlake Park, Los Angeles. says there
was formerly garden at Encinitas, Cal,
containing more than 400 varieties of
cactus. but 1t was recently abandoned.
Some of the rarest specimens were sent
to the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington and the rest were sold to collect
ors. for cactus gardens are now becoming
fad, much as orchids have been for
several years. Mr.. Gowan has four Speci-
mems of spineless cactus. imported from
Italy. He has made no experiments in
crossing any of the varieties, nor has he
aff aYn tod To as a In hoi UQ1 nod
or medicine. He says. however, that there
is widespread respect for the medicinal
qualities of certain varieties, and that he
has applications nearly every day from
people seeking them as antidotes for
some particular i'll with which they are
suffering. MIR. Gowan believes that when
ever we-can produce a cactus free from
spines our desert wastes will be valu-
able as our fertile valleys; because, he
says, 1t has been thoroughly demonstrated
that nearly every variety contains nour-
ishing food for cattle.
Mr.. and Mrs John Lennon are travel
Ing over the southern California and Ari-
IONA deserts. seeking unknown varieties
of cactus and other rare plants. 1t is a
curious pastime. The federal government
has furnished them with an ambulance, a
pair of mules and camping outfit. and
they are moving slowly over the deserts.
Prof w ] MCGEE of Washington, for
ogy. is also down here somewhere on the
desert studying the habits. customs and
legends OF the Indians.
Marine Investigations.
A number of people in San Diego who are
scientifically inclined have established a
marine biological laboratory at the subur-
ban town Of La Jolla, where the water is
very deep and is filled with animal and veg
etable life. The laboratory is supported by
private contributors. the most generous of
whom are Miss Ellen B. Scripps, Mr.. E. w.
Scripps, and Mr.. Homer H. Peters for
meriy of Chicago). Mr.. Peters IL the pres