The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-03-20
Texas SpfneIess Cactus.


Recently we printed an article TAX /
en- from the San Antonio Express,
telling that spineless cactus had been |
known in that part of Texas for |
many years. The following letter |
testifies to the same effect. 1t makes |
a mighty bad showing for the en-
terprise and intelligence of Texas |
agriculturists, that they were not |
able to make use of so great a gift |
from nature, while the whole world |
is interested in the work of Luther !
Burbank, who has succeeded after !
years of work in growing artifcially |
the very plant that grows naturally |
in Texas.
Oklahoma City, Jan. 10 |
Editor of the Reporter: Inclosed !
please find clipping from the Ok
lahoman. The papers are saying con-
siderable about the spineless cactus
of late, and the impression is out
that Mr. Burbank is the originator
of it. l think the spineless cactus is
a native of Texas l we'll remember,
so many years ago l don't like to
count the years, Frank Weaver of
Fort Worth and myself were on Rich
ard Kings ranch at Aqua Dulce, not
far from Alice, Texas. Mr.. King
had at that time quite row of spine
less cactus growing as an ornament,
and no doubt has them yet Mr.
Weaver may have forgotten about
the cactus, but I know he will never
forget how royalty we were enter
tanned by Mr.. King at his Aqua Dulce
ranch. c. c. FRENCH.
From the Oklahoma City Okla
homan: Agriculturally Oklahoma is
generally found in the van of pro
gress. The farmers of Oklahoma
readily conceded the value of bermu-
da grass and it was sown Then they
saw a great light when the growing
of alfalfa was recommended Today
the alfalfa farmer has money in the
bank where the cotton planter is los
ing sleep because of the mortgage
coming due.
The latest matter that is interest
ing the Oklahoma agriculturist is the
Burbank spinelesS cactus. 1t is here
and is soon to be planted in various
parts of the state. Mr. Burbank is
to agriculture and horticulture what
Edison has been to the electric world.
He is veritable wizard, and the
spineless cactus is one of the prime
exhibits in the proof of that fact
If all that is being said in eXtolla-
ton of the spineless cactus may be
regarded as truth it is the summum
bomum for which the Oklahoma far
mer has been looking
By the process of hybridization the
Gn1 ri
perfect cactus devoid of the prickly
thorns that have for centuries caused
it to be despised of man and beast
Furthermore it has been given the
nutritious and flavor qualities of a
number of choice edible plants and
fruits, seven in number to be exact.
That is to say, several of these vul-
gar plebian plants may be grown in
restricted back yard area, and the
owner will find it possible to enjoy
eggplant, pineapple, cantaloupe,
orange. peanut, potato, etc, at his
pleasure, severally or ensemble. And
Furthermore, these edibles may be
plucked at any season of the year.
The surplus may be employed as a
stock food of the highest nutritive
swers for both food and drink Pro-
life growth is claimed for it, and it
does not degenerate. single leaf
from the original seeding plant will
seed an entire township eventually.
A single plant frequently yields 200
pounds of food material for both man
and beast. Once planted it does not
| necessarily require attention to pro-
| duce fifty tons to the acre. Given the
same attention and cultivation as
corn it will produce 200 tons per
acre.
Think of the possibilities. 1t can
| be grown anywhere, on sandy land
or clay soil. If the extravagant claims
| of the promoters may be relied upon,
the ordinary town lot, dimensions so
| by 40 feet, planted to this wonder
| full vegetable will provide sustenance
for family, a small herd of cattle, a
few swine, numerous fowls and per-
haps cat and dog or two.
Great is the spineless cactus. What
delightful visions it presents of the
| ideally simple life No more discus
sions of ten acres and a living, for
here is competency in ten square
rods of land planted to cactus. What
| exultation in the thought that Rookie
| Teller and Hartman have been de-
MED monopoly of the spineless cac-
tus.-Fort Worth Reporter.
Cream is separated from milk in
new machine which ALTERNATELY SUh-