ON USEFUL SUBSTANCES IN CACTUS 



syrups may be made from the fruits; and its juices 

 are used for coloring ices, jellies, and confec- 

 tionery. 



Second: The slabs or so-called leaves of the 

 plant supply an unprecedented amount of forage 

 for stock of all kinds and for poultry. 



Third : The young slabs make excellent pickles, 

 and are a good and wholesome food when fried 

 like the eggplant. They are also boiled and used 

 as greens, and may be prepared with sugar to 

 produce a sweetmeat similar to preserved citron. 



Fourth: The leaves are extensively used in 

 Mexico and elsewhere for poultices, and as a sub- 

 stitute for hot water bags — the thornless kind 

 being naturally preferred! 



Fifth : The abundant plant juices contain a mu- 

 cilaginous substance that is used to fix pigments, 

 and which in time will be put to many other 

 important uses. 



Sixth : The thorny varieties are used for hedges 

 or fences, as well as for ornament, and even to 

 protect the thornless ones. No animal of any kind 

 will undertake to pass through one of these thorny 

 hedges. In regions subject to the drifting of sand 

 they serve an important purpose as barriers. 



Seventh: The fiber of the plant makes an ad- 

 mirable stock for the manufactufe of paper, but 

 not as yet in large quantities. 



[255] 



