The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-28
Mexico Has Produced 1t In
Cactus Cheese.

| FOE the southwestern Desert FLICK
Iy Plant - Fodder For Dairy AMI
mals-DevelOping spineIess 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
| ington correspondent. 1t is not Gus
| tomary 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 a surprise which has been uncoy-
cred only through the industrious re-
searches of the inquisitive 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
upon fact, it must be explained that
the cactus as it is generally known is
nothing less than a 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, 50 that plants of any sort,
however worthless they may appear to
the casual traveller have some value to
the people who live there. 1t is not sur
prisiug, 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 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
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
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 connoisseur as that in
dividual shows in devouring 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 ac-
uuired the cheese IS an appetizing adj
dition to the we'll garnished table. Then
there is the additional fact Of the
udaptability of the cactus plant stock,
for through other methods in prepare
ton there can be manufactured a strip
and a sort of jelly which may be eaten
with bread or crackers, like the finest
Scotch marmalaQe or American apple
jelly.
The addition to the list of eatables OF
a food susceptible of so many prepare
tons as this is expected to prove OF
wide general interest. Now that the
first secret of it's 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 plant
which has been developed through sci
entific experiment to produce a 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 it 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 or
the spines which nature had given the
plant for it's own defense. The expert
mentors were aware that cattle will not
eat the cactus In its natural state be-
cause of these spiny prickles, 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
nrickles become harmless. After this
treatment the plants are greatly rel
isbed by the stock, especially the dairy
animals. 1t has been demonstrated also
that a ration of these soaked cacti
combined with a little grain viii keep
q dairy animal in good flesh and milk