El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-17
FARMING
CACTUS CULTURE
WEALTH
Spineless Variety Good for
Many Uses; Colima En-
cOurages Fruit Growing


ment, the perfection of the thOSnless
cactus promises to fulfill the prophecy
that the desert shall blossom as the
rose" for with the education of the
homeseeker as 10 the possibilities Of
the cactus as food for cattle, hogs,
sheep. and chickens, thousands CT
acres Of land that have hitherto been
non-prOductive along the west coast Of
Mexico viii be turned into fiEurative
goId mines simply by clearing away
the thOrny cactus and putting in its
stead the Spineless variety.
The Opuntias, or prickly pear cac-
rus, should be planted three or four
feet apart in rows that are about 10
feet apart The better the soil the
greater the yield. although the do
nestle cactus viii thrive on the on he
same rocky, sandy. dry, comparatively
worthless land where is now found the
Wlld cactus The cactus is not pro-
duced from the seed of the fruit, but
from cuttings, and these cuttings
should be wilted for a few DAYS or a
week and then placed in the ground
when they viii root readily and grow
rapidly The usual way is to plant
them with about One-third of the cut
ting beneath the ground and the
planting should be done in the warm
summer months Two light irrigatiOns
are all that Is necessary for the cactus,
although it viii grow well anywhere
except on land that is absolutely too
wet for any other plants to grow.
As food for milk cows nothing can
Surpass the. splnelesS cactus. Cows
viii leave alfalfa and go to the cactus,
and on cactus diet the milk supply
has been increased 50 percent Chick
ems will leave lettuce for cactus. show
ing cOnclusively that il is a satisfy
ing food for them
One acre of land viii produce ZOE
tons Of leaves, or slabs the second
or third year. Until this time the
land should be fenced from the stock,
but the third year horses and cattle
may be turned into the field, as the
main stalk Of the plant is then woody.
As forage. cactus should be worth
81 per ton, and in time OF extreme
drouJh would bring much more than
that
In addition to the quantities Of
stock food produced, the cactus Yields
a fruit that is beautiful in color and
exceedingly wholesome, and which cas-
be exported to advantage, samples
having been shipped without ice from
san Francisco to Chicago, New York, |
Boston and Washington. which !
reached those eastern points in per-
feet condition On good soil from 90 I
TO 100 tons Of fruit may be produced
per acre The wholesale price of this |
fruit is about 10 cents gold a pound
Jams, jellies and syrups may also be |
made from the cactus fruit, and ices
and confectionery may be cOlored a |
most beautiful shade with its juice
In Mexico today the pulp of the (
wild cactus is made into a very whole |
some candy The young splneless
leaves may be used for pickles. and
are said to be very appetizing VIII N
fried like egg plant They may be
also boiled and served as greens.
BY crushing the cactus leaves and
covering them with water a mucila-
ginOus substance is formed which is
excellent to mix with whitewash TO
make it more lasting A leaf or two
viii make gallon OF muCllage-
When this substance IS poured on
stagnant water 1t forms a coating that |
causes the mosquito larvae to die be-
cause of lack Of air. This substance |
is much more effcaciOuS than petrO-
leum because it does not evaDorate.
Premiums to Fruit Planters.
The legislature of the state OF Coli
ma, upon the initiative Of governor !
senior J. Trinidad AlamlllO, has passed 1
a law which it is believed Will con-
tribute to the development Of agricUl- (
tUre throughout that region
Every agriculturist or corporation,
whether domestic or foreign. which, I
dedicates itself to the planting and /
cultivating Of fruit trees, shall be en-
titled to a premium OF 800 Mexican
currency per 1000 trees. which shall /
be found to be in a state Of prOduc-
ton This premium will be paid from I
the state treasury upon the first har- /
vest, and may be paid but once
A premium of $4,000 Mexican cur !
rency will be paid to the agriculturist !
or foreign corporation which plants I
and cultivates the banana of the var /
iety known as the "roatan,' and OBJ
tains from the first harvest 200. coo Z
punches OF bananas. To small grow I
ers who. taking advantage of the di- |
vision of lands, can be owners Of only !
five to 10 hectaras, and who plant !
such lands to this variety of banana /
viii be paid a premium Of 10 pesos fer I
each thousand punches
a premium of 1000 pesos will be /
paid for the planting and cultivation /
of each 100000 plants Of any variety I
of pine apple which is well received in I
foreign markets Small growers VINO I
plant from 10000 plants up, will Ice /
granted premiums in proportion
A premium Of 50 pesos viii be. paid /
for each hectare on which is planted I
garden stuff which is in demand IN 4
the markets Of North America. such as /
onions garlic, tomatoes, egg plant, !
artichOkes, cucumbers. etc This privi- /
lege is limited to five years
A premium Of 5000 pesos will be paid /
to the growers who plant cantalOupes /
and obtains harvest from 800 hec-
tares of land. This premium is sub \
ject to payment but once
Predial taxes viii be exempted for 1
five years on lands devoted exclusively /
TO the planting and cultivating Of the
products mentioned
Factories established for the can
ming Of fruits and vegetables, will he
exempted from every kind Of state or
tax for a period of five
years. Like exemption viii be granted
for the manufacture of banana flour.
No irrigation plant constructed in
the future on territory of the state
Of COlima will be assessed state or
taxes Of any kind for per
.od of 10 years
A premium Of 10 pesos will be paid
for each hectare of land planted to J
grapes of the cultivated varieties, CT
to wild grapes, or to cherries Of the
variety known as "Mizpan." which
premium shall be paid when ii Is
shown that such plants are fruit pro-
lucing. This premium is subject to |
but one payment
A premium of 10000 will be paid but
once only to any person who, after the
PRONUNCIATION of this law plants on
ands within the state 100000 cocOanUt
palms. the premium to be paid when
such palms are known to be fruit
producing
a. P Moore. extra fireman on the
r. & P, was called to go out on engine
,92 Wednesday and was relieved by the |
regular fireman. who showed up after !
,Ir Moore had been called. Mr. Moore |