Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-08-04

VA desert without the cactus would be
!: J: +: !:
(C-YgSs55s1l like Hamlet with Hamlet left out.
ll1rT1TTN1lf There are something like five mil
II WN1lIIIVlE lion square miles of desert scat
II WIW II tered about the globe and it takes
S1 about a thousand species Of cacti
- to go round.
But the traveller does not have
to visit all the deserts of earth to find variety
OF species. Down the border line between
the United States and Mexico there are famous
cactus areas, where this curious and interesting
plant may be found in bewlldering variety At
one end Of the scale the desert wayfarer sees
the giant saguarOs So 60 feet high, fluted col
umnal forms with branching limbs and curving
lines. Close to the other end is the dreaded
choyas-ttle round patches Of glstening, frosty
white And under every bunch are the discarded
JOINTS like little frosty pine cones covered with
spnes. Old desert travellers claim that 4the chOya
is alive and leaps at man and horse. Certain it
is that 1t seems impossible to avoid the steellke
thorns that pierce leather and flesh Apparently
they are poison thorns for the pain is like no
other and almost unendurable they sting and
burn and at the same time seem to freeZe-and
they stick like barbed fishhook.
On the other hand there is the bsigni cactus
which has saved uncOunted lives of those who
know. Its barrel-shaped mass contains a 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 its use. Again, there are cacti that fur
ntsh delicious fruits. Some of the cactf are good
eating. Some used for the manufacture of
a variety of articles ranging from toothpcks to
chairs. One kind of cactus has been used for
ages hair brush
In short, the cactus is almost as useful to the
American of the Southwest and to the Mexican as
the buffalo used to be to the plains Indian. It
is no 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 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 future for the SpinelesS cactus as n 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 a future. The world is presumably to
hear further from Luther Burbank's experiments
DIR. p. l.. Sherman experimenting with spineIess
varieties, found that they were rich in sugar and
were fitted for the manufacture of cheap candy
1t 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, to 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:
1t Is estimated that there are three billion
acres of desert land in the world; and IL these
unattractive and unprOductive wastes are ever
, to blossom like the rose" it will be the cactl
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
dertul 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 mucilagi.
nous or milky preventing the loss Of water to
the hot dry air by which these plants are con.
tlnually 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 I'm spite
Of their spines The few forms Of spineless cact
that occur in the wild state always frequent
rocky lodges and other situations that are mac
cessble to most animals If not to ALL
The number Of species of cacti recognized Is
( large, amounting to about thousand and haf
of these found in Mexico. They vary from
tiny plants no bigger than ones finger to tree!
60 feet In height presenting all manner Of queer
and interesting shapes and furnishing the botan
list with end of knotty problems. Extensiv,
A collections Of living plants may be seen under
glass at the New York Botanical garden, the De
partment Of Agriculture in Washington, and tn,
Missouri Botanical garden in st. Louis; whit
b. others in the open are to be found at Riverside
California; Tucson, Arizona; Mesilla Park New