Marble Hill press., 1921-08-04

Mexico. Laredo. Texas Miami. FLORIDA. and els'.
WL,r,
Cactus plants are certainly not ornamental In
the ordinary sense, hut beauty j. relative"
f'r"s; " giant cactus tr,rS str.fehuE mile after
mile in the desert with nothing tn rival them
may be- decidedly nttrnctly" Ia Mexico the caciu.
ornaments the national banner aud is stamped
uu many ~ the older coins. whgc Ia Arizona aud
New Mexico ~ has b.en selected a. the state
flower
The cactus family l. uuts,i for the maguincrnce
~ its flowers, which nr" usually large often
fragrant viie.sprrad,ng "r tubular dlgrnAl OF
nocturnal. e,Hucsc,u' ~ persistent, aud vary 10
color from white yellow. or orange Co rus"-cu
orrd. drrprcd. or rurp, The cBlyx and coroIla
are not distinct. hui fhe numerous samcus In
the rcuicr urc often differently cnor,i and lend
40 added charm o. tar flower n" fruit j. often
brilliantly couref h.-hly ornamental as veil as
useful, and lasts for n long time
The cactus plant Las indirectly added much
20 the Httrurfyeucs- uf certain manufactured
garments by supporting The cu'hiuenl insect from
which the famous cu.hlncal dyc IL made Tits
insect occurs "a sp,e."s ~ upUufia me
cochiucal ng and - near relatives along with
other mites aud scale Insects but n T. - minute
and difficult 90 distinguish with the uualacd eve
that II was long thought g. b. the si,t or bloom
OF the plant itself L"cuwrghueck. IN l7n1 dis.
covered that q the female " an insect tCnr.
Gus curtN which never moved from n trrtsIn
spot IN the cactus. the male being the active
member of the family. but culuricss and therefore
useless These insects mr. harvested threc times
during the dry season, being swept from the cacti
into wide -nouthed bags with si!n brushes and
killed IN boiling water or ho, ovens after which
they are dried IN the sun and put up In small
packagss for the market In this thoroughly
dried condition 1000 insects are required 70
make pound
The ornamental value II cncti although I'm
portant, is not uppernost IN the mind of the
average lnhahitant Of arid regions. The trunks
furnish him material for houses. corrHls IRE
wood etc and. when planted close together they
form hedges that nre lasting and impervlous 7,
is here behind a shield Of thorns that the little
cactus wren finds refuge from hawks where
she can build her nest and rear her young In
safety
The cactus trunk i~ composed of wood axis
or skeleton surrounded by pulp. From this
skeleton tai1e legs, chairs, napkin rings. canes
yeneering etc. made The spnes also are
usaful serving as needles, tooihplcks and pins
for mending leather or cloth. Some are curved
and supply ready y.mnde hshhooks, while the
straight ones are bound 10 slivers Of bone 10
form very efficient barbs. One species OF cactus
bears fruits that resemble great chestnut burx
and these have been used by the Indians for ages
az hair brushes.
The pulpy parts or the stems ana fruits are
bIgbIy valuable as food both for man and beast
The young pads, or Joints, may be cut Into strips
and cooked Ike string beans. or boiled greens
or stewed like okra, fried like eggplant or
picked or made into sweetnents like citron
TUNA cheese" Is made from the fruits Of certain
cacti while the Juice Of red fruits Ia often used
In coloring Ices. ieuIes and candles, and even In
water-coor painting.
The traveller who knows how" need never lack
,ri,a a~ti ma cut
Off the top of q barrrl-cactus. pound up the pulp
and squeeze the water from 1t into his drinking
cup. He will find II slightly salty and bitter,
but clear and rather palatable. Or he may sup
port cactus trunk stones, build a fire under
each end. and make hole In the middle, from
which the water VIII gradually trtckle.
The Indian traveller also uses the milky juice
Of Mamilara for healing cracks IN his feet or
for internal complaints when ON long Journeys.