Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1909-05-14
USE FOR A WORTHLESS
WEED.


cess for extracting wax from the
cardelilla weed has created a
new and important industry in
Mexico and Texas. The candelilla
weed is q desert plant which
grows abundantly upon many
millions of acres Of semi-arid
land in Northern Mexico and
parts of Texas, Arizona and
New Mexico. 1t is one of the
types of vegetation peculiar to
the southwest which long had
been looked upon as useless. 1t
was despised by cattlemen be-
cause it has the faculty Of form
ing such a dense growth upon
lands as to shut out the grass
and thus injure the range for
grazing purposes.
Land owners who have this
formerly despised weed growing
upon their holdings now find
themselves in a fair way to reap
a fortune from the utilization of
the plant. This already is being
done in Mexico and steps have
been taken in Texas to carry on
the manufacture Of wax from
the plant.
When it was discovered q few
years ago that a good grade Of
crude rubber could be manufac-
tured from the guayule shrub
experiments were begun by Mr..
Pacius and others with various
other kinds of wild vegetation.
Mr.. Pacius found that the can
delilla contained wax to the
amount of 81 to at per cent. He
perfected and patented a process
, of extracting the wax and it is
|, in practical operation in a number
8 of factories that have been es.
tablished in Northern Mexico.
The new industry is having 9
rapid growth. 1t is predicted
d by men who are familiar with
p the different varities Of CONNER
II cial wax that it will not be Ions
n until the principal source of sup
= ply of that product will COM
l, from the candelilla plant. |
If means an enormous increase o
wealth to the people of the BIZ
territory of Texas, Mexico, Ariz
ed ona and New Mexico, wher
be this plant is found in its nativ
n, state.
a The manufacture of this vegt
NJ table wax already is on a payin
n commercial basis. The deman
- for the product comes at tn
III time chiefly from Germany, ar
the factories which are in oper'
ton are making regular shi
tie ments to Hamburg. The preset
me price in Mexico is 5000 gold p
~ ton. 1t is said that about thir'
us tons of the weed are required
les make-one ton of the crude wa
ult The same factory that manufa
2 a lures the crude wax from Il
A plant also puts the produ
-, through the refining process
Oai The cost of producing a ton
wax is $75 gold. One importa
and valuable advantage of {
Ia. new industry is that the refu
7, of the weed is available for fl
for the factory.
ing The land upon which the ca
md delilla weed grows profusely
in producing a big revenue per &C
ate in the localities where factor
Ia, have been established. 1t is 81
i'e0 that where land is well set
Ing the plant it can be made to vi
up a profit of $500 to $500 gold.
acre per annum. 1t has b
demonstrated that cutting off
ern the stems of the plant close
tha the ground causes it to multi
Tue its shoots, and the yield will
al increased each year until
tain whole surface of the ground
orn- density covered with the weed
YES. It is asserted that the dem,
,a;n for vegetable wax in Mexico
'a'il many foreign countries is ia
'ong excess of the available sup
low- A vegetable wax is made in |
tern I'll from the carnauba plI
. eff The candelilla product has b