Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-31
STUDY OF THE CACTUS
Many Varieties Of Unitarian
Value.
SOME USED AS FOOD
HOPE OF CULTIVATING THE
PLANTS WITHOUT SPINES.
In That Event Desert Wastes May Be
Transformed Into Fertile Plains
Scientific Investigations
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

the activity of a moth. which disturbs and
distributes the pollen while seeking to suck
the sweet sap of the leaves.
All desert plants have thorns or spines as
a protection against men and animals
Otherwise they would have been extermi-
mated centuries ago. They have such
struggle for existence that nature provided
them with weapons of defense, and they
cannot be reached without injury to the as,
sailant. Now science is seeking means to
deprive them of this protection, in order
that the dry sands may be subdued and
compelled to produce food and contribute
to the wealth and welfare of mankind. 1t is
a curious fact that the only variety of the
cactus without thorns is found growing in
Lodges far beyond reach of animals. This is
explained on the theory that abbits, prai-
RE dogs and other desert animals consumed
all within reach long ago. Under the thorns
of every variety of cactus. so far has
been discovered. may be found refreshing
and nourshng food This was discovered
by the Indians long ago and cactus forms
large part of their diet. They have a way
of stripping the spines from the leaves and
eating the pulp both cooked and uncooked
The fruit of the cactus is often delicious to
the taste, and the roots of certain varieties
are boiled and then ground into -four.
Study Of the Cactus.
The study OF the cactus is a recent fad
Many scientific men are now engaged in
making Investigations into its habits, with
a view to promoting its usefulness. The
federal government, the civic authorities
the faculties Of the universities of the arid
states and territories. and several private
individuals are engaged in the work. The
Carnegie Institution has established bo-
charge of DR.. w. A. Cannon of Column
bia University, New York city He and
his assistants are experimenting with all
kinds OF desert plants within their reach to
thnt- ,,tty lpto w.t.. l.,
its and ascertain the precise biological and
physical conditions under which plants
grow In the desert. in the hope and expec-
tation that they can be made to grow more
freely and become useful to man. If the
desert plants can be used as forage for
cattle 1t will be a great achievement, Some
important discoveries have already been
made. and during the winter the results
will be given to the world
Just now DR.. Cannon and his assistants
trying to determine how the cactus and
other desert plants extract water from
the soil and the atmosphere All desert
plants contain large quantities of moisture.
The barrel cactus. for example, is so
per cent water. and fourishes best in bar
rem deserts: where there Is not spring
or river within a hundred miles and no
rain ever falls. Other varieties of cacti
contain from so to IS per cent of water.
and the yucca plant is actually reservoir.
This is so we'll understood that Indians and
frontiersmen often rely upon it to Stake
their thirst when crossing a desert. How
these plants get water is the problem Prof.
Cannon is now trying to solve
A Phenomenon of the Desert.
phenomenon even more remarkable and
inexplicable is the presence In the sands of
the desert of an infinite number and great
variety of seeds of plants and flowers which
terminate at long intervals when there hap
pens to be a rainfall or when water IS intro
duced by the construction of irrigation
bitches Such a phenomenon was observed
last spring in several parts of Arizona
where rain fell for the first time in the
memory of man. Immediately after, as If
by magic the sands were covered by a
blanket of flowers and tiny plants. which
were entirely unknown to the people there.
They survived but a few days. The burn
ing sun soon dried the desert and this I'M
natural vegetation vanished.
similar phenomenon occurred in 1899 on
the desert of Peru, which lies between the
Andes and the ocean. Heavy rains fell
there for the first time in centuries. There
were no records of previous rains. but for
two weeks more succession of daily
showers astonished the natives and were
followed by the appearance of luxurious
vegetation upon shifting sands-plantS and
flowers that no one had ever seen before.
The miracle was brief. They lived but
few days and then withered and the desert
resumed its barrenness. Where the seeds
came from nobody can explain. 1t has been
a popular impression that no rain has ever
fallen upon the Peruvian deserts since the
making of the world. Hence there has
never been any plant life there Six thou
sand miles OF ocean lie on one Side and the
other side is bounded by the mighty Andes
whose western slopes are of rock and sand.
almost destitute Of vegetation. On the east
ern slopes of the Andes are immense for
ests and jungles and vegetation OF the rank
est character. But the plants and flowers
which appeared miraculously during
those few days on the desert are not found
anywhere on that continent.
When the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
railway was built through Indian Territory
wild verbena sprang up wherever the soil
was turned each summer. and for two or
three years the right OF way was one CON
tinuous bed of flowers Of varieties which
had never bIoomed there before. The con-
struction of new irrigation systems In arid
countries Is often followed by the appear
ance of vegetation. which indicates that the
soil is full of latent life and seeds that have
been lying dormant for ages. When new
soil is cultivated on the praires and deserts
weeds and plants that have been unknown
to those regions appear Immediately. and no
one has ever yet been able to determine
where the seeds come from.
Scientific Investigations.
These and other botanical phenomena are
being Investigated at several private and
government laboratories. We may soon
learn interesting facts concerning desert
plant life. The United States government
intends to establish a laboratory near San
Diego for the purpose of studying desert
vegetation. particularly with view of
ascertaining its economic value for forage.
fruit and fiber. The local board OF trade
has offered to furnish the land wherever the
government decides to locate and DR.. Grit
nth OF the Agricultural Department at
Washington has recently been here study
ing the situation. He will report the re-
suits of his observations to Secretary VIII
son, and Congress will be asked to make
suitable appropriation for buildings and ap-
paratus. The department wishes to give
special attention to grasses and other
plants that will flourish in the dry soil and
climate of the deserts.
Mr. Brandegee of San Diego, who Is an
authority on cactus. told me that the larg-
est number of species may be found at
Shaw's Garden. in St. Louis. There is also
fine collection at Eastlake Park. Los
Angeles-probably two hundred and fifty
varieties. Another extensive collection can
be found at the public park in Riverside.
Cal, and still another at Bay City. Mich.
Mr.. E. w. Scripps. at his cactus ranch near
San Diego has the largest number OF plants
''in captivity" as one might say-nearly
5000, or six acres Mr.. Scripps employs