INTERESTING FORMS OF DESERT PLANT LIFE. 



19: 



THE NATIVE CALIFORNIA PALM. 



harvest is brought to the baking pits and 

 a "mescal bake" ensues much after the 

 fashion of a "down east clambake." Af- 

 ter three days the big baking is finished 

 and then the mescal heads are raked 

 out of their covering of leaves and hot 

 stones, soft, sweet and deliciouslv. some- 

 thing like a sweet apple. 



The Indians have learned another use 

 of this plant, which is often called the 

 "thread and needle plant." Each one of 

 the thick, succulent leaves terminates in 

 a sharp, spike-like thorn. This thorn is 

 firmly fastened to a stout, thread-like 

 fibre which runs the whole length of the 

 leaf, often three or four feet. When the 

 fibre is stripped from the leaf the thorn 

 remains attached, a thread and needle 

 ready for use. With such needles the 

 Indians do much of their crude sewing. 



There is still another use to which the 

 mescal is put. From it an exceedingly 

 intoxicating drink is distilled. It is vil- 

 lianous in its effects, often inciting its 

 devotees to commit the most atrocious 

 deeds. 



The cacti have more uses perhaps than 



any other family of the desert plants. 

 They furnish a wide range of fruits and 

 material for sweetmeats and the green, 

 succulent leaves are used for vegetables. 

 Material for the framework of houses is 

 furnished by the skeletons of the larger 

 varietics. Several varieties are used to 

 make fences and hedges. In early days 

 the mission fathers defended themselves 

 from the attacks of hostile Indians by 

 putting up impenetrable barriers of the 

 ordinary tuna. In Mexico the organ 

 cactus is still used to make fences. 

 Pieces the desired length are cut off and 

 placed in the ground, and when they 

 take root and grow they form an admir- 

 able guard against the invasion of either 

 man or animal. The thorns serve as 

 needles and pins and those of the "bis- 

 naga" are used as toothpicks. It is 

 said that certain species furnish the In- 

 dians with hairbrushes. 



The yuccas furnish both food and fibre. 

 Young shoots are cooked like cabbage. 

 The fruit is dried and ground into a 



THE TREE YUCCA. 



