The Parker post., 1913-11-22
GROW CACTUS
ON THE MESA
BURBANK'S PHENOMENAL FOD-
DER PLANT CAN BE RAISED
SUCCESSFULLY WITH LITTLE
WATER, SAYS C. D. PATTERSON
(Palo Verde Valley Herald)

(Palo Verde Valley Herald)
That the cultivation of spineless
cactus can be carried on successfully
and profitably on the Palo Verde
Mesa and Chuckawalla lands is the
statement of G. D. Patterson, who
has been experimenting with plants
ON his mesa ranch west Of Blythe
for the past year and half.
Very little water is necessary for
the growth of the cactus according to
Patterson and a small we'll will sup
ply plenty of moisture for 40 acres.
The plant will grow without irriga-
tion on the mesa, but makes better
headway with an occasional watering.
Before planting the cactus Mr.. Pat
| terson made a careful study of its
cultivation and value in places where
| it is grown on a commercial scale
and claims that the plant has all the
| feeding value of alfalfa and will pro-
duce 100 tons to the acre. He be-
lieves that. it will offer temporary
solution to the mesa entrymen while
they are promoting the work on their
irrigation project.
Patterson now has a large tract
under cultivation and expects to set
out several acres next spring. His
first plants were slow starting on ac-
count of the ravages of rabbits and
rats which came for miles to feed
ON his cactus He finally kept out
the rabbits by means of tight fence
and has poisoned hundreds of rats
and squirrels.
SHOT THROUGH LEG.
w. J Burbank, an Imperial valley
homesteader who drove through to
Blythe recently in search of work,
was shot through the leg by 25-
80 rifle in the hands of Jack Nc
Neil, prospeetor, in Blythe We'd
nesday of last week
Mcneil was under the influence of
! liquor at the time of the shooting
and wholly irresponsible. Both part
les were camping on the. lots north
of Todd's plumbing shop. According
to Burbank, Mcneil picked up the gun
loaded it, cooked it and pointed it
at him. Burbank seized the barrel
and turned it down just as the other
pulled the trigger and the bullet en-
tered the right leg just above the
DR.. Chapman sent the man to Riv-
erside to have it amputated.
| Mcneil was placed under arrest
and later bound over and taken to
Riverside for trial Both parties sta
| ted that there had been no quarrel
previous to the shooting.
LOW GRADE FOR RAILROAD.
The surveyors who made the pre-
liminary survey line for the railroad
to Blythe Jc. report the biggest grade
encountered was 1.5 and this can
be reduced by making a deep cut
through the summit. The road as
they laid it out is practically with
out curves and the total distance to
the Junction is 39.1.
John Denair, who is promoting the
line, stated that he had fully deter
rlined on the Blythe Junction route
and that within the next few weeks
he would have proposition to pre-
sent the people of the valley rela-
tive to the financing Of the road
He expects to sell stock locally and
is confident he will have no diff
Guilty in disposing Of the amount to
be placed on the market here.
ARRESTED FOR SELLING LIQUOR.
Enricho Dominguez, a Mexican ar.
rested two weeks ago for S elling
liquor to Indians from the reserva-
ton, was taken out last week by a
United States marshal The boot
logger was arrested by o. l.. Bah
cock, superintendent of the Colo
RADIO River Indian reservation.
The government through it's agents
is especially Jealous in enforcing
the laws against selling liquor to
Indians and as most of the tribe
stationed at Parker is in the val
ley picking cotton Mr.. Babcock is
keeping them under close surviel-
lance to prevent any violation of the
law here.
FARMERS PROTEST.
The highest tribute that could be
paid to any man was voiced by the