The Parker post. (Parker, Ariz.) 1910-1918, 1911-10-14
THE MACUEY PLANT
GOOD STOCK FEED
Can Be Grown Without Irrigation
and Authorities Claim That 1t is
Better Than Corn For Fattenina
Hogs.
Especial Correspondence

\0pOCAdA SOLIO0QOuuOuCSsJ
WENDEN, Ariz., Oct 13.-From The
various articles we have noticed in
the newspapers along back it would
appear that agriculturists, and ex-
perimenters along that line, are be-
coming interested in the matter of
cultivating the mescal or maguey
J plant, species of which is to be
found growing on the dry and bar
rem mesas and foothills of southern
Arizona. From such information as
the writer has been able to obtain
on the subject, it would seem strange
that native plant, adapted to the
dryest and poorest of soils, a plant
of such unusual merit and hardness,
should remain unused and untried by
the farmers and planters of this
section.
The Phoenix Republican of Sept
"a, 1911, published an article as
follows: 'In Mexico there is a plant
that feeds a greater number of
persons in more different ways
than is known perhaps, in any
other country in the world" said
G. w. Lucas, typographical engi
neer for the Mexican Continental
railway, to a reporter for the Wash
| ington Post
"The maguey is a species of cac-
tus which thrives in greatest extent
and profusion on the great mesas
of the republic of Mexico. 1t is
perhaps the most remarkable plant
as regards its utilization, Of all the
more common tropical plants on
earth. In this country plant Of
the same family is known as the
century plant, but of course the va
riety in Mexico is different, and, ap-
parently, the plant is used only
for ornamental purposes.
''This plant throws out tiny sprouts
with from five to eight BRANCHES
edged with small espinas or nee
dies, which identify. it as of the
cactus family. 1t does not attain to
its full growth until it's fifth year,
but it may be made useful two years
earlier. In it's third year one or all
of its branches are tapped, making
cavities in the sides of the branch
in which the sap or juice Of the plant
collects. This latter liquid is what
is known in Mexico as aqua -miel,
an efficacious medicine in many dis
orders of the human system, but it
must be used as such the first day
after it is picked. If allowed to
stand, fermentation takes place,
and the aqua-meil changes into
what is known as the most COM
mon of the intoxicating drinks of
MexicO-pulque.
when distilled. pulque is the
great national drink of Mexico,
and is known as mescal. The mes
cal distilled in the state of San
Luis Potesi is regarded as the
best quality, and S called 'tequila.'
1T is not only in it's medical and
drinking qualities that the maguey
plant is useful 1t is one Of the
most important fiber plants in Mexi-
co, and is utilized in the weaving
of baskets and clothing. 1t is
tough fiber but as flexible as lin
en- thread"
From other sources it is learned
that the maguey PLAN is of great
value as a feed for fattening stock,
some of the experimenters claim
that when sliced, sun-dmed and
stored away, the product is superio
to corn for fattening hogs, or it may
ers claim that for the manufacture
of denatured alcohol, the maguey
plant could be made source of great
profit
1t is evident that the maguey plant
would thrive in any portion of south
ern Arizona where the altitude is
less than 5000 feet, without irriga-
ton, and little, or no, cultivation,
and the prospect that this valuable
plant may at no distant day bring
some of the waterless plains into a
state of productiveness, and still
retain their purity of atmosphere
and freedom from mosquitoes, which
can hardly be realized where irriga-
ton is practiced, is we'll worth the
investigation