TEXAS NATURE OBSERVATIONS AND REMINISCENCES. 257 



narrated opuntia jungles, stated 

 above, I noticed one of the 

 dreaded round prairie cactus, 

 typical to the Texas soil, and 

 which the cowboy and cattlemen 

 in general abhor for reason of 

 its enormous and sharp-pointed 

 thorns, and which the Mexi- 

 cans term "mata caballo," mean- 

 ing "kills the horse." When 

 cattle, or a horse, etc., step on 

 these thorny cactus some of the 



several inches above ground, in 

 some isolated region near hilly 

 places or on the flat prairie. 



"Not all sharp-spiked dagger 

 plants — a certain variety— are 

 the so-called "Spanish dagger," 

 but they are named the Span- 

 ish "amole." The roots of this 

 amole plant are often gathered 

 for the purpose of washing 

 flannel goods, etc., and as a 

 substitute for soap, and soap 





Target Practice in Texas Flower Land 



spikes are liable to injure or 

 enter the hoof parts, with the 

 result of serious inflammation 

 or death of the animal frorfl te- 

 tanus. The thorns of this cac- 

 tus, slightly curved at the sharp 

 end part, are as hard as ivory, 

 and the rotund cactus itself is 

 of very compact and tough na- 

 ture, generally protruding only 



dealers prepare a fine "amole 

 soap" from this jungle plant. 

 In the fall these amole plants 

 are exceedingly attractive for,, 

 reason of the many alabaster- 

 white and bell-shaped blossoms 

 they bear. The blossoms sprout 

 on a centrally located stem, 

 some four to six feet higher 

 than the dagger leaves, and are. 



