56 
cacti were important. One species known as the tuna was culti- 
vated on a considerable scale. The giant cactus, one of ane wees? 
table wonders of the world, prod 
with a rich crimson pulp which were eonsidereds a delicacy by 
the Indians of Arizona. One method of preparation was to make 
a light-brown sugary syrup from the pulp, a syrup which was a 
substitute for sugar. The seed of many cacti were also parched 
and pulverized into a meal which was used in making gruel, 
cakes, or bread. 
e Virginia or scarlet strawberry is quite abundant on dry 
meadows over the greater portion of eastern United States. The 
Indians and the early white settlers as well gathered the delicious 
fruits of this species. The familiar strawberry in cultivation 
today hs ene not from this plant but from a species found wild 
in South Am 
Two species oe cranberries are wild in North America. The 
Indians of northern and eastern United States were very fond 
of the fruits of these 
The persimmon is a well-known tree over a large part of 
eastern United States. The fruit is somewhat like a yellow plum 
in appearance. They are strongly astringent when green, but 
of sweet and agreeable taste when ripe. The fruits were much 
esteemed by Indians and were preserved by dry: 
Among the various other plants yielding fais Gee should be 
mentioned wild pl ‘ ie rence raspberries, blueberries, 
and huckleberries, all o ich were gathered in considerable 
quantities when in season. 
Of the dry fruits, seeds, and nuts, there were many species 
that were of great importance to various Indian tribes. One of 
these is wild rice, an annual grass growing in shallow pau 
water of lakes and streams over a wide area of United States a 
When conditions are favorable, it grows rapidly and 
meadows. The seed is somewhat longer and more cylindrical 
than an oat or a wheat seed. Wild rice reaches its best develop- 
ment in Wisconsin and Minnesota, where it has always been an 
important food with several Indian tribes. It is probable that 
