THE CACTUS. 



PROF. W. K. HIGLEY. 



BECAUSE the Greeks in olden 

 times applied the word Cactus 

 to a prickly plant, Linnaeus, 

 often called the Father of Bot- 

 any, gave the same name to our won- 

 derful American growth and since his 

 time these strange and varied plants have 

 borne this nomenclature. 



We can hardly imagine any group of 

 plants more interesting. There are 

 over eight hundred varieties of curious 

 and unexpected forms, bearing tubular 

 or rotate flowers most varied in size 

 and color — white, pink, purple, yellow, 

 crimson, deep red — all beautiful and 

 fascinating, and in our Northern coun- 

 try, protected in the conservatories. The 

 Night-blooming Cereus is most re- 

 nowned, most admired of all. 



The Cacti are commonly found in the 

 United States, in Mexico, and in South 

 America, and some species are cultivated 

 on the borders of the Mediterranean Sea, 

 where the fruit is eaten. 



They vary in size from an inch or two 

 in height to enormous growths of fifty 

 or sixty feet (Cereus giganteus) which 

 stand like telegraph poles, some- 

 times nearly bare, sometimes with 

 many vertical branches, reminding 

 one of a huge candelabrum. Then 

 again some forms are nearly spherical, 

 while others are long, jointed, and 

 square, one species (Echmocactus vis- 

 naga) grows about nine feet in height 

 with a diameter of three feet or more 

 and a single plant of this species will 

 sometimes weigh a ton. One of our 

 most common forms is flat and broad; 

 This, the Prickly Pear or Indian Fig 

 (Opentia Vulgario), is the only species 

 found as far north as Wisconsin and 

 New York. 



As many of the Cacti require but lit- 

 tle care, they are quite extensively cul- 

 tivated, not only for the rare beauty of 

 their flowers, but for economic purposes. 

 However," nearly all are worthy of cul- 

 ture because of their peculiar forms. 



In structure they are fitted for growth 

 in the most arid regions ; they abound 

 in the deserts of New Mexico and 

 southward. In many cases obtaining 

 their food from a soil in which no other 



plant will grow, their thick coats en- 

 abling them to retain moisture and vi- 

 tality for many weeks. Specimens of 

 the Prickly Pear have been known to 

 grow after lying on a dry floor, in a 

 closed room, for six months and they 

 have blossomed when left in this condi- 

 tion for some time. 



These plants, which are more or less 

 succulent, are usually protected from 

 the ravages of animal life by a formid- 

 able array of spines and prickles. Those 

 who have carelessly handled our com- 

 mon Prickly Pear can attest to the 

 Intensely irritating character of its 

 defensive armor. Thus does nature pro- 

 vide for the care of its otherwise de- 

 fenseless forms. 



A form of the Prickly Pear (Opuntia 

 coccinellifera) is cultivated in Mexico 

 for the pupose of raising the Cochineal 

 insect (Coccus cacti) which feeds upon 

 It. Some of these plantations contain as 

 many as 50,000 plants. The females are 

 placed on the Cactus In August and In 

 about four or five months the first 

 gathering of the Cochineal takes place, 

 being then ready for the market. 



There are many other interesting uses 

 to which these plants are put. When 

 suffering from thirst animals will tear 

 off the hard outer fibers and eagerly 

 devour the moist, juicy Interior of the 

 stems. The Mokl Indian basket makers 

 use the fiber In their work. This they 

 dye different colors and wind around 

 the foundations, giving strength and 

 beauty. The spines of one species 

 {Echino cactus visnaga) are used by the 

 Mexicans as toothpicks. It has been 

 estimated that a single plant may bear 

 upwards of 50,000 solnes. 



A unique and beautiful sight was a 

 group of Cacti blooming In a Colorado 

 garden, where the owner had spent 

 much time and expense in gathering to- 

 gether many varieties, and one was made 

 to realize how remarkable a thing Na- 

 ture had lavished upon us : for, as Mr. 

 Grant Allen has said: "The Cactuses 

 are all true American citizens by birth 

 and training, and none of them are found 

 truly indigenous in any part of the Old 

 World." 



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