The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1921-08-05

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 wiNh 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 it has been selected as the state
flower
The cactus family is noted for the magnihcence
of its flowers, which are usually large, often
fragrant, wide-spreading or tubular, diurna or
nocturnal, evanescent persistent, and vary in
color from white yellow, or orange to rose-col-
ored, deep-red, or purple. The calyx and corola
are not distinct, but the numerous stamens in
tile center are often differently coored and lend
an added charm to the flower The fruit is often
brilliantly colOred, highly ornamental as well as
useful, and lasts for long time.
The cactus plant has indirectly added much
TO the attractveness of certain manufactured
garments by supporting the cochineal insect, from
which the famous cochineal dye is made. This
insect occurs a species of Opuntia, the
cochineal fig and Its relatives, along with
other mites and scale-nsects but 1t Is SO minute
and difficult to distinguish with the unaided eye
that it was long thought to be the seed or bloom
of the plant itself. Leeuwenhoeck in 1903 dis
covered that it was the female of an insect (COc-
Gus cactD, which never moved from certain
spot on 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 up in small
packages for the market In this thoroughly
dried condition 10000 insects 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. 1t
is here behind a shield of thOrns that the little
cactus wren finds a refuge from hawks where
she can build her nest and rear her young in
safety.
The cactus trunk is composed Of wood axis,
or skeleton surrounded by pulp. From this
skeleton table legs chairs, napkin rings, canes,
yeneering, etc. are made. The spines also are
useful serving MS needless toothpicks and pins
for mending 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 pulpy parts of the stems and fruits are
highly valuable as food both for man and beast
The young pads or joints, may be cut into strips
and cooked like string beans, or boiled as green's.
or stewed like okra, or fried Ike eggplant or
rickIed or made into sweetmeats like citron.
@Tuna cheese" is made from the fruits of certain
eacti. while the juice Of red fruits is often used
in coloring ices, ieles and candies, and even in
water-color painting
The traveller who knows how" need never lack
for water where there cacti. He may cut
or the top OF a barrel-cactus pound up the pulp
srfo fc drip fnU
cun He wifi find it slightly salty and bitter,
but clear and rather palatable. Or he may sup
port cactus trunk on stones, build a fire under
each end, and make hole in the middle, from
which the water will gradually trickle
The Indian traveller also uses the milky juice
Of MamilIaria for healing cracks In his feet or
for internal complaints when on long Journeys