CACTUS AND OEEASEWOOD 



143 



proportionate to the result attained. The little 

 vegetation that grows in the waste may not 

 seem worth while, may seem insignificant 

 compared with the great care bestowed upon it. 

 But Nature does not think so. To her the cac- 

 tus of the desert is just as important in its 

 place as the arrowy pine on the mountain. 

 She means that something shall grow and bear 

 fruit after its kind even on the gravel beds of 

 the Colorado ; she means that the desert shall 

 have its covering, scanty though it be, just the 

 same as the well-watered lands of the tropics. 



But are they useful, these desert growths ? 

 Certainly they are ; just as useful as the pine 

 tree or the potato plant. To be sure, man 

 cannot saw them into boards or cook them in a 

 pot ; but then Nature has other animals be- 

 side man to look after, other uses for her pro- 

 ducts than supporting human life. She toils 

 and spins for all alike and man is not her spe- 

 cial care. The desert vegetation answers her 

 purposes and who shall say her purposes have 

 ever been other than wise ? 



Are they beautiful these plants and shrubs 

 of the desert ? Now just what do you mean 

 by that word " beautiful " ? Do you mean 

 something of regular form, something smooth 



The expend- 

 iture of 

 energy. 



The desert 

 covering. 



Use of 

 desert 

 plants. 



