Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-06-12
CACTUS AND DESERT,
POETRY AND UTILITY
PRACTICAL USERS OF THE DES-
ERT VEGETATION.
Mrs. L. n. Yetter's Experiments Ir
the Uses Of the Cactus.

local enthusiasts who have from time
to time taken an interest in it, and
solely because she believes in il. She
is overwhelmed with the idea that
the cactus with which the great des-
erts are covered. was made for a
purpose and il is mans work to find
1t out, just as il has been his mis-
sion to develop the natural resources
of any and every primitive section
he has invaded. Mrs Yetter has
cactus garden in Phoenix. not a
very large one of course but enough
for experimental purposes and she
is not only experimenting with the
thornless but with various other kinds
Of cactus. for the cactus and the
desert are her pleasure as well as her
call To action.
Recently she announced that she
had prepared a fine hair wash from
the root of the yucca or amole plant.
which has for a long time been used
in the manufacture of soap. very sue
cessfully. She SAYS it not only makes
a fine hair wash but is a good tonic
for the hair, giving il that silky lustre
so much desired. The yucca she says
is fine also for washing delicate fab
RIGS as il is really a natural vege-
table soap.
Another thing Mrs. Yetter calls at
tention to is sthe thorn of a certain
kind of cactus. specimens of which
she has sent to this office. and which
she saws have been demonstrated to
do excellent service as fish hooks
The thorns of many varieties turn up
in fish hook shape but the particular
sort Mrs. Yetter refers To is more
accentuated in its hook-like shape
Mrs. Yetter who lives on North
Twelfth avenue says she will be glad
to furnish any boy or boys who care
to experiment. with these cactus
thorn fish hooks. if they will only
ask her for them. and there will be
no charge She says the Indians
used these spines for fish hooks long
before they became acquainted with
the white mans metal hook.
incidentally Mrs Yetter is quite
interested in the Indian as he is a
part and parcel of the Arizona des-
erts. and she says that many of her
ideas have been gained from Observ-
ing the methods of the Indians, Just
as the whites are now putting their |
pottery and their baskets To good |
commercial purposes. For instance !
she says she observed a young In |
dian woman heating up the rising for |
her bread i'm the sun and open air |
and believed there must be a reason |
for ii. so she followed her example |
and now she always makes and rails
es her bread out of doors in the sun
She did not explain the advantages
but perhaps the housewives of the
country will know
Returning to cactus. Mrs. Yetter
says she will be pleased to show any
interested person her cactus garden
which is Furnishing without irriga-
ton and she is anxious to have the
and farmers of the
make practical experiments
with the cactus, not only as a stock
food, but as n food for the human an
imal. She says one variety or an
other may be cooked i'm many WAYS
and prepared into the most delicate
and toothsome dishes. She cooks one
variety in a way that she SAYS is
equal to asparagus or green peas.
or greens such as dock and dandelion
In support of her ideas she quotes.
the plant bureau of Washington as
people to learn to eat weeds.
to reduce the high cost of living. for
many weeds are no longer weeds
when their real value becomes known
There is also a sentimental side to
the study of the desert, the cactus
and the mountains. as well as a prac-
teal side. and Mrs. Yetter is not
unmindful of il. on a recent occa-
sion wher her thoughts Travelled in
that direction she expressed herself
in the following lines to Comeback
What hand has shaped these outlines
OF man and beast and Bird
Was sound of "a workman's chisel
within these gates once heard?
What painters brush has traced them
in tints or red and gold:
What vice had power to call them.
these wonders manifold?
Born at the voice of that Master, who
said Let there be light"
framed by the hand of that work
man who makes the day and night:
the sweep of His magic brush
which painted tree and flower.
\ garden of the gods is here. for here
is Godlike power.
lie who at night looks on his work
and says that it is good
las left His presence lingering here.
in blessings where He stood,
rhe peace of nature breathes on US
from distant mountain pa3hs,
The loving heart uplifted here. with