The Idaho recorder., 1921-08-26

Mexico: Laredo Texas; Miami, Florida. and else
where.
Cactus plants are certainly not ornamental in
the ordinary sense. but beauty In relative.
forest OF giant cactus trees stretching mile after
mile In the desert with nothing to rival them
may be decidedly attractive, In Mexico the cactus
ornaments the national banner and is stamped :
on many Of the older coins. while In Arizona and
New Mexico IL has been selected as the state
flower.
The cactus family is noted for the magnihcence
of Its flowers. which are usually large. often
fragrant. wide-spreading or tubular. diurnal
nocturnal, evanescent or persistent. and vary In
color from white yellow. orange to rose-col.
ored. deepred, or purple. The cnyx and corolla
are not distinct. but the numerous stamens In
the center are often differently coiored and lend
an added charm to the flower. The fruit Is often
brilliantly colored, highly ornamental as well as
useful. and lasts for long time.
The cactus plant has Indirectly added much
10 the attractyeness of certain manufactured
garments by supporting the cochineal insect from
which the famous cochineal dye In made, This
insect occurs n species Of Opuntia. the
eachinenl hg and Its near relatives along with
other mites and scale cnsects but II Is s6 minute
and difficult TO distinguish with the unaded eye
that IL was long thought to be the seed bloom
of the plant itself Leeuwenhoeck. In 1703 dis
covered that II was the female OF an insect (Coc-
Gus enetD. which never moved from certain
spot on the cactus, the male being the active
member OF the family but eolorless and therefore
useless These insects are harvested three times
during the dry season. being swept from the cacti
into wide mouthed bags with sttn brushes and
killed I'm boiling water or hot ovens. after which
they nrc dried In the and put up In small
packages for the market. In this thoroughly
dried condition 10000 insects required 10
make a pound,
The ornamental value OF cacu, although i'm.
portant. Is not nppermost In the mind of the
average inhabitant OF arid regions The trunks
furnish him material for houses eorrais, fire.
wood etc. and. when planted close together they
form hedges that are lasting and mpervious, II
Ia here behind a shield Of thorns that the little
enetns wren finds u refuge from hawks where
sh. can build her nest and rear her young In
safety
The cactus trunk Is composed of wood axis.
or skeleton. surrounded by pulp From this
skeleton table legs. chairs, napkin rings, canes.
yeueering. etc, nre made. The spines also are
useful, serving ms needles, toothpiess and pins
for mendtng leather or cloth. Some are curved
and supply ready made hsh-hcoks. while the
straight ones ARE bound 10 slisers ef hone to
form very efficient harhs one species OF cactus
bears fruits that resemble great chestnut burs,
and these have been used by the Indians for ages
Us hair brushes,
The nuipv parts Of the stems and fruits ars
highly valuable as food both ser man and beast
The Young pads or Joints may be cut into strips
and cooked Ike string beans. or boiled as green's
Or 'steMed Ike okra. fried like eggplant e'
nlclisd nr made Into swcetmcats like citron
'sruna cheese" Is made from the fruits ot certain
cactl while the juire ef red fruits Is eftCa uset
In eoleriag' lses. ienies ana candies aud even IL
watrr,culor painting.
Tl,c traveller Who "knbws TOW" need never iaeI
Tor water where there are Saetl lite may gu
ny the top OF a harrrl.cactus. pound M the pull
and squeeze the water from II into his drinking
Gun lie will find II slightly salty and bitter
but clesr and rather palatahlc. or he may sup
mort a cactus trunk stones, hulid hre unde
each end. and make hole IN the mtddie. frot
which the water viii gradually uieSe.
The Indian traveller also uses the milky luic
OF Mnmitlaria for healing cracks In his feet Q
Tor internal complaints when on long Journey