Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-04
Mexico; Laredo. Texas; Miami Florida. and else

Mexico; Laredo Texas Miami. Florida, and else
where.
Cactus plants are certainly not ornamental in
the ordinary sense, but beauty Is 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 1t has been selected the state
flower
The cactus family is noted for the magnifcence
OF Its flowers which usually large often
fragrant, widespreading or tubular, diurnal or
nocturnal, evanescent or persistent, and vary In
color from white! yellow. or orange to rosecol
ored. deep-red or purple. The calyx and corolla
are not distinct, but the numerous stamens In
the center are often differently colored and lend
an added charm to the flower. The fruit is often
brilliantly colored, highly ornamental as well as
useful and lasts for a long time.
The cactus plant has Indirectly added much
to the attractiveness OF certain manufactured
garments by supporting the cochineal insect from
which the famous cochineal dye Is made This
Insect occurs on species of Opuntia the
cochneal fig, and Its near relatives. along with
other mites and scale-nsects but It is so minute
and difficult TO distinguish with the unaided eve
that it was long thought TO be the seed or bloom
of the plant itself Leeuwenhoeck In 17O3 dis
covered that II the female of an insect (Coc-
Gus cacti), which never moved from a certain
spot the cactus the male being the active
member of the family. but colorless and therefore
useless. These insects are harvested three times
during the dry season, being swept from the cacti
into wide-mouthed bags with stiff brushes and
killed In boiling water or hot ovens, after which
they are dried In the sun and put I'D In small
packages for the market. In this thoroughly
dried condition 10000 insects are required to
make pound.
The ornamental value Of cacti although i'm
portant, is not uppermost In the mind Of the
average inhabitant Of arid regions. The trunks
furnish him material for houses corrals fire.
wood etc, and, when planted close together, they
form hedges that are lasting and impervious II
is here behind 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 is composed OF a wood axis
or skeleton surrounded by pulp. From this
skeleton table legs, chairs, napkin rings canes
veneering, etc.. are made. The spines also are
useful serving needles, toothpicks and pins
for merdng leather or cloth. Some are curved
and supply ready-made fsh-hooks while the
straight ones are bound TO slivers of bone to
form very efficient barbs. One species OF cactus
bears fruits that resemble great chestnut burs,
and these have been used by the Indians for ages
as hair brushes.
The PUPPY parts Of the stems and fruits are
highly valuable as food both for man and beast
The young pads joints, may be cut into strips
and cooked like string beans or boiled as greens
or stewed like okra, or fried like eggplant or
picked, or made into sweetmeats like citron
TUNA cheese" is made from the fruits Of certain
cacti while the Juice of red fruits Is often used
In coloring ices. jellies and candies and even In
water-color painting.
The traveller who "knows how" need never lack
for water where there are cacti. He may cut
or the top Of a barrel-cactus, pound up the pulp
and squeeze the water from # into his drinking
cup He win find 1t slightly salty and bitter,
but clear and rather palatable. Or he may sup
port cactus trunk on stones, build fire under
each end. and make hole In the middle, from
which the water win gradually trickle.
The Indian traveller also uses the milky juice
of Mamillaria for healing cracks In his feet or
for internal complaints when on long journeys