The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1921-08-05


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Ia ACTI are as much part of the
desert as the sand and the binding
glare and the lack of water. The
desert without the cactus would be
%@76 like Hamlet" with Hamlet left out.
IIfS71S1li There are something like five mil
UWWlllHUl lion square miles of desert scat
II WIl|lV tered about the globe and it takes
II WV about a thousand species of cact
- to go round.
But the traveller does have
to visit all the deserts of earth to find variety
of species Down on the border line between
the United States and Mexico there are famous
cactus areas, where this curious and interesting
plant may be found In bewildering variety. At
one end of the scale the desert wayfarer sees
the giant saguaros so 60 feet high, futed, col
umnal forms with branching limbs and curving
lines. Close to the other end is. the dreaded
choyas-litte round patches of glistening, frosty
white. And under every bunch are the discarded
joints, like little frosty pine cones covered with
spines. Old desert travellers claim that the choya
Is alive and leaps at man and horse. Certain 1t
Is that 1t seems impossible TO avoid the steel-like
thorns that pierce leather and flesh. Apparently
they are poison thorns, for the pain is like no
other and almost uncomfortable; they sting and
/ Durn ana at the same time seem 10 IFeeZe-Auu
| they stick like barbed fshhOok.
| On the other hand, there is the bisigni cactus
which has saved uncounted lives of those who
know. Its barrel-shaped mass contains fluid
resembling water; and it is COOL Then again,
there is the cactus that furnishes "peyOte"-a
Stimulant of which the Indians are so fond that
congress has thought of passing legislation to
control it's use Again, there cacti that fur
nish delicious fruits. Some of the cacti are good
Coyao for Tho aUI1fap Of
a variety of articles ranging from toothpicks to
chairs. One kind Of cactus has been used for
ages as hair brush.
In short, the cactls is almost useful to the
American of the Southwest and TO the Mexican as
the buffalo used to, be to the plains Indian. 1t
| Is wonder that the cactus is seen on the flag
Of Mexico and many Of the old-time coins and
that it is the state flower of more than one of
the American states Of the Southwest.
Manifold as are the present uses of the cactus,
there is every indication that its usefulness will
be extended by the evolution and development
of special varieties For example, there is prob
ably a future for the spineess cactus as q food
for cattle Any forage that can be grown on
the desert without irrigation and has a food
value something like half that of alfalfa is bound
to have future The world is presumably to
hear further from Luther Burbanks experiments
DR.. p. L. Sherrnan, experimenting with spineless
varieties, found that they were rich in sugar and
were fitted for the manufacture of cheap candy
It Is also easy to imagine conditions few years
hence under which it will be worth while to
develop the fruits Of the cactus family.
| So, all in all, the cactus family is one of the
most interesting in the world say nothing of its
value, both actual and potential DR.. William
A. Murrill of the New York Botanical garden
has written for the Scientific American Magazine
a most interesting article outlining the many
uses of cacti. The article is illustrated from
photographs by courtesy of the United States
National museum Says Doctor Murrill
It is estimated that there are three billion
acres of desert land in the world and, If these
unattractive and unproductive wastes are ever
Ito blossom like the rose" it will be the cacti
or plants similarly adapted to desert conditions
that will furnish the flowers Desert plants were
like other plants once, but the vital necessity
for preserving moisture gradually wrought a won
derful change in their appearance and structure.
Few of the cacti now have any conspicuous
leaves, their place being taken by fattened
joints, or pads which are modified portions of
the stem; and even the sap has become mueilagi-
nous or milky preventing the loss of water to
the hot dry air by which these plants are con-
tinually surrounded. Spines of various shapes
and sizes serve to protect them against grazing
animals that are often killed when driven by
hunger and thirst to devour these plants in spite
Of their spines The few forms of spfneless caeti
that occur in the wild state always frequent
rocky lodges and other situations that are mac
cessfble to most animals If not to all.
The number Of species of caeh recognized IS
large. amounting to about one thousand and half
of these are found In Mexico. They vary from
tiny plants no bigger than ones finger to trees
80 feet in height presenting all manner of queer
and interesting shapes and furnishing the botan-
LIST with no end Of knotty problems. Extensive
| collections of living plants may be seen under
glass at the New York Botanical garden, fhe De.
lpartmcnt of Agriculture In Washington, and the
Missouri Botanical garden IN ST. Louis; while
sthers In the open are to be found at Riverside
celsforuia; Tucson. Arizona: AEesilla Park. New