150 THE PLANT WOKLD 



ing one day over the sandy plains, near Tucson, Arizona, the writer 

 saw the giant cereus cactus covering the slopes of an entire mountain. 

 It was the strangest sight ever beheld. The great, dark green, fluted 

 columns of this plant rose 18 to 30 feet in the air. It bears in its season 

 a large white flower that opens like a chestnut, and has inside a red, flesh- 

 like pulp of which the Mexicans and Indians are very fond. The flavor 

 is sweetish ; rather insipid. The trunks of the giant are divided 

 through their length by strong white ribs which the natives use as beams 

 for the roofs of their houses. The Bisnago is low and round, about the 

 size and shape of a pumpkin. The Mexicans cut the white pulp of this 

 cactus into small pieces, boil them in sugar and obtain a choice bon-bon. 

 The Datil grows to a height of five or six feet, with branches that diverge 

 at right angles. The fruit resembles a cucumber and contains black seeds, 

 which the Indians grind into flour. The prickly-pear cactus is the 

 greatest fruit producer of all the tribe. The " pears " are about the size 

 and shape of a Bartlett, and have rather a pleasant taste, not unlike 

 watermelon. They contain so many seeds (and one invariably gets a 

 number of tiny prickles in his skin, which cause much pain and dis- 

 comfort) that, unless he knows the Mexican's scientific method of eat- 

 ing them, he had better let the "pears" alone. This plant grows very lux- 

 uriantly aboiit the missions in California, notably at Pala, where one has 

 established itself on the very apex of the adobe bell tower, flourishing 

 there as composedly as if growing on terra firm a. 



The Wild Flower Preservation 



Society 



SINCE the Society" began its active work we have received numer- 

 ous inquiries from many members as to the plants most in need 

 of protection. Mrs. Elizabeth G. Britton, of our Board of Man- 

 agers, has prepared the following notes on the subject, systematically 

 arranged according to families. The explanations given of the various 

 methods of reproduction and propagation are important, and should be 

 studied with care, for upon this depends the degree of harm that 

 will ensue from plucking. It is recommended that members circulate 

 this article freely among their friends. Reprints of it may be obtained 

 by addressing the Secretary. 



