The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1908-10-24

TcQulIc lIOSl piOol SUI HSN
house nearly mile long in
which to store them, and large
number of men and teams to har-
vest and replant them every
spring and fall. That such a
plant could be profitably cultivat-
ed here is doubtful. Our native
cactus is perfectly hardy, needs
no codling and can undoubtedly
tie made as productive on our
soils as any of Burbanks' crea-
tionS.
In searching for the best wild
plants we found a place in the
mountains where the natural con-
ditions for the development of
cactus were perfect. The plants
were greatly superior in every
way to anything we have found.
They were large leaved and pro-
ductive and some of the fruits
were palatable. These plants
we have transplanted to our gar
dens where they have grown
finely. 1t is believed that if by
any mishap these plants should
be DESTROYED it would be a great
loss to the territory and proba-
bly, to humanity, for we have
doubt if such fine plants can be
found elsewhere in the territory
on which to begin the work of
improvement.
1t has been held by some that
hardy cactus suited to our eli
mate can be developed in Cali
fornia or other locality where
the environm IS are not the
same as the plant must endure
here, but high authority among
our government officers assert
that successful cactus must be
produced on the ground where
the plant is needed, A cactus
developed in the central part OF
the territory could, no doubt, be
successfully grown in every part
of it since the conditions in every
part are much the same.
Cultivation greatly increases
the growth and output of the
cactus. Experiments made in
Texas prove that culture will in
crease the production eight times
what it would be under natural
conditions. AS the cactus needs
no water beyond the natural
rainfall, dry farming is best
adapted to its successful culture,
so that every foot of our waste
land even to the tops OF the
mountains, can be reclaimed by
it. 1t is estimated that it would
take about 100 acres of range to
support the year around five
head of cattle, but under cactus
culture and feeding the same
land would support 100 head, or
the output of beef in this terri
tory can be increased by means
of cactus culture in regions that
cannot be irrigated, twenty fold.
Such an increase would no doubt
more than pay the cost of cul-
ture and make this land which
is so highly adapted to stock
raising of all kinds one OF the
richest states in the union.
The demand for beef and meat
products is steadily growing IN
the east, and prices going higher
with the increasing population.
New Mexico, with larger area
for stock raising than any other
state or territory, should, and no
doubt will, give every possible
aid in developing plant so es'
sential to her future prosperity
Numerous stockmen have beer
consulted and without exception
the deepest interest has beer
shown.
We have grown the cactus but
one season, but now foresee thai
no one man with ordinary private
: capital can afford the expense
required to develop it.
We must appeal to the terri
tory, to the Legislative council
! for assistance, if we are to gC
l ahead with this work. Many o
the eastern states have auxlliar'
: experiment stations devoted
p: wholly to specal work, and /
! would seem that such station
l should be established in New
E Mexico and devoted wholly L
e cactus culture and improvement
1t should be established upo
our mesa lands where the envir
5 onments of the plant will be sue
d as it must endure. There ar
4 many points on the Rio Grand
: where such a station could be {:
: tablished, but few, if any, bette
q than at San Antonio, At n
e time would the expense be buI
densome. The station shoul
II be put under state ownershl
l. and control and should DE =
:. auxiliary to the station at Me