Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-06
nDBT FOR EPNURES|
Mexico Has Produced a New
Delicacy Known as the
Cactus Cheese
LOOKS LIKE FINE CHOCOLATE
lt Is Regarded as a Nutritious Food
by the Mexicans-other Uses For
the Southwestern Desert Plant -
Fodder for Dairy ADMINISTRATORS.
Ing spineless Plants.

Fodder for Dairy AnimaIs-Develop.
ina Spineless Plants.
New York epicures who yearn for
more gastronomic worlds to conquer
may find interest in a new confection
which has been evolved in Mexico and
can be produced with equal ease on
the barren wastes Of the great south
west, says the New York Posts Wash
iington correspondent. 1t is not Gus
stomary for high livers to look to desert
lands for their choice morsels, but in
this case it must be admitted that
Dame Nature has held in store for
them surprise which has been uncoy-
cred only through the industrious re-
searches of the inuuisitiye agricultural
scientists Of today. The new confec-
ton is called by the Mexicans "queso
de tuna" which means literally cactus
cheese.
To give this announcement even the
merest appearance of being founded
upon fact, it must be explained that
the cactus as it is generally known is
nothing less than wild plant, covered
with prickly spines. These spines are
intended by nature as deterrents to
wild animals, which would otherwise
get into the habit Of making the cactus
their principal food supply. Were the
spines lacking, the plant would quickly
be exterminated through this demand
for food.
A great portion Of the southwestern
corner of the United States is abso-
lutely unsuited to the growing of gen
eral crops, so that plants OF any sort,
however worthless they may appear to
the casual traveller. have some value to
the people who live there. It is not sur
.prising, then, that such plants assume
great value in the eyes Of scientific ex-
perimenters whenever there Is the
slightest trace of qualities capable OF
development and adaptation to human
needs. To this end Investigations have
been In progress for a year or two past
to determine what useful results could
be attained through the scientific de-
velopment of the cactus plant, and all
that has been discovered would fill O
book.
The discovery of greatest interest is
the production Of this cactus cheese,
which looks for all the world like fine
grade OF chocolate and which Is made
up In packages about the size of q
pound OF butter. 1t is wrapped in
tin foil to preserve it from deteriora-
ton. The Mexicans say it is nutri-
tious food, which is eaten with as much
delight BY the connoissetlr as that in
dividual shows in devuuring some kinds
OF cheese which call for an acquired
taste to permit Of their thorough enjoy
ment. Those who are best acquainted
with the cactus products, however, de-
clare that when the taste is once &C.
qufred the cheese is an appetizinG ad-
dition to the well garnished table. Then
there Is the additional fact Of the
adaptability of the cactus plant stock,
for through other methods in prepara-
ton there can be manufactured a strip
and a sort OF Jelly which may be eaten
with bread or crackers, like the finest
Scotch marmalaoe or American apple
Jelly.
The addition to the list Of eatables of
q food susceptible of SO many prepare
tons as this is expected to prove Of
wide general interest. Now that the
first secret Of its value has been dis
covered there is sure to be an evolution
Of the uses to which it may be put. 1t
is not to be supposed that a plant
which has been developed through sci
entifc experiment to produce new
source Of food supply for human con-
sumption would not be investigated
from the last inch of its lowest root to
the pinnacle of its growth above
ground. An inquiry made at the de-
partment Of agriculture shows that this
has in fact been done and that as in
teresting results have been achieved
regarding the value Of the plant proper
as Of the food stock 1t produces.
The experiments were carried on
with the idea Of finding out whether
the common prickly pear cactus from
which the cheese is made could not be
developed In such way as to provide
fodder for dairy animals. The first OBJ
stacle to overcome was to dispose Of
the spines which nature had given the
plant for its own defense. The expert
mentors were aware that cattle will not
eat the cactus in its natural state be-
cause Of these spiny prdckles, which
are sure to lacerate their mouths and
injure the animals in various other
ways. Soon after the experiments were
undertaken in the southwest 1t was
found that If the plants were cut up
and allowed to soak in their own Juice
for twelve or fourteen hours the spiny
prickles become harmless. After this
treatment the plants are greatly rel
ished by the stock, especially the dairy
animals. It has been demonstrated also
that ration of these soaked cacti
combined with little grain will keep
q dairy animal in good flesh and milk
as readily as the best corn ensilage.
Having found the good uses of the
cactus piant for stock feeding when the
spines are made harmless. the scientific
experts have been working to obtain
what is known as spineless forms or