The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-27

OEZ,NZZA
Acr a. are "a. as 1 much "a part , of the
glare and the lack of water. The
. desert without the cactus would be
like Hamlet" with Hamlet left out
lI1ST1H7H1l1 There something like five mill
UWNllIlIVu lion square miles Of desert scat
II VllIlV tered about the globe and it takes
III 49, II about a thousand species Of cacd
80 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 bewildering variety. At
one end Of the scale the desert wayfarer sees
the giant saguaros, So 60 feet high. futed, col
umnal forms with branching limbs and curving
Hines. Close to the other end is the dreaded
choyas-ttle round patches Of glistening frosty
white. And under every bunch are the discarded
Joints like little frosty pine cones covered with
epines. Old desert travellers claim that the choya
b alive and leaps at man and horse. Certain 1t
is that it impossible to avoid the steellike
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 fishhook.
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 it Is cool Then, again,
there is the cactus that furnishes ''peyote'-a
Etimulant of which the Indians are so fond that
congress has thought Of passing legislation to
control its use. Again. there cacti that fur
nish delicious fruits Some of the cacti are good
eating. Some are used for the manufacture of
a 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. 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 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 a 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 future. The world Is presumably to
hear further from Luther Burbanks experiments
DIR. p L. Sherman, experimenting with spIneless
varieties found that they were rich in sugar and
were fitted for the manufacture Of cheap candy.
II Is also easy to imagine conditions few years
hence under which it will be worth while to
develop the fruits of the cactus family
&c. 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 NurrilI 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
Cav
It Is estimated that there are three billion
acres of desert land in the world; and, IL these
unattractive and unprpductive wastes are ever
to blossom like the rose" it win be the cacti
or plants similarly adapted to Uesert conditions
that will furnish the flowers. Desert plants were
like other plants once. but the vital necessity
for preserving moisture gradually wrought won
derful 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 mucilagf-
nous or milky, preventing the loss OF water to
the hot, dry air by which these plants are con-
finually 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 IN spite
OF their spines The few forms Of spineless cactl
that occur Ii the wild state always frequent
rocky hedges and other situations that are mac
cessible to most animals II not to all
The number Of species Of cacti recognized Il
large. amounting to about one thousand. and hall
Of these are found In Mexico They vary from
tiny plants no bigger than ones finger to trees
60 feet Ia height, presenting all manner Of queeI
and interesting shapes and furnishing the b0tan
ast with no end of knotty problems Extensive
collections Of living plants may be seen under
eiass 1t the New York BotanicAl garden. the De
partnenf Of Agriculture a Washington, and thu