Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-08-04

CTZ/HZIIf
- ACTI are much a part Of the
desert as the sand and the binding
glare and the lack Of water. The
desert without the cactus would be
G0 like Hamlet" with Hamlet left out.
lfifTITTTS1li There are something like FIVE mil
WVNlilIIVl lion square miles Of desert scat
II VNlUV tered about the globe and it takes
III 80 about thousand species of cact
to go round.
But the traveller does not have
70 visit all the deserts Of earth to find variety
Oh species. Down on the border line between
me 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 go feet high, futed, COL
umnai forms with branching limbs and eurving
nnes. Close to the other end Is the dreaded
ehoyas-littie 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 II z
rs that 1t seems impossible to avoid the steeiike
thorns that pierce leather and flesh. Apparently
they are poison thorns, for the pain Is like no
other and almost uncomfortable; they sting and
burn and at the same time seem to freeze--and
they stick like barbed ishhook.
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 1t is cool. Then, again,
there Is the cactus that furnishes 'peyote'--a
sfimulnnt Of which the Indians are so fond that
congress has thought Of passing legislation to
control Its USE Again. there are cacti that fur
nish delicious trusts Some of the cacti are good
eating. Some used for the manufacture Of
n variety Of articles ranging from toothpicks to
chairs. One kind of cactus has been used for
ages as 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, II
rs no wonder that the cactus Is seen on the flag
OF Mexico and many Of the old-time coins and
that II is the state flower Of more than one of
she 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 future for the spineless cactus as food
for cattle. Any forage that can be grown on
the desert without irrigation and has food
value something like half that of alfalfa is bound
to have a future. The world Is presumably 70
hear further from Luther Burbank's experiments
DIR. p. L. Sherman, experimenting with spineess
varieties, found that they were rich In sugar and
we're fitted for the manufacture of cheap candy.
II Is also easy to imagine conditions a few wears
hence under which 1t 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 I'm the world, say nothing OF ts
value. both actual and potential. Dr. William
A. MurriD Of the New York Botanical garden
has written for the Scientific American Magazine
q most interesting article outlining the many
ases of cncti. The article Is illustrated from
photographs by courtesy of the United States
National museum. Says Doctor Murrin:
II Is estimated that there are three billion
acres Of desert land in the world; and, II these
nnattractive and unproductive wastes are ever
TO blossom like the rose" II will be the cacti
or plants similarly adapted to desert conditions
that will furnish the flowers. Desert plants were
ME other plants once but the vital necessity
for preserving moisture gradually wrought a won.
derfil 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 10
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
Munger and thirst to devour these plants In spite
that occur In the wild state always frequent
weekly lodges and other situations that are mac
lressible to most animals, II not to all.
The number Of species Of cacti recognized In
hrge 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
90 feet In height, presenting all manner Of queer
and interesting shapes and furnishing the botan-
INT with no end Of knotty problems. Extensive
collections of living plants may be seen under
glass at the New York Botanical garden the De-
yartment Of Agriculture In Washington, and the
Missouri Botanical garden In st. Louis; while
sthers IN the open are to be found at Riverside
California; Tucson, Arizona; Mesiiia Park. New