THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



5 



skin or fiber of pale green color and fluted like a Corinth- 

 ian column. The edges are covered with wicked spines, 

 and the whole is a growth largely composed of water, in 

 a land where that liquid in an almost unknown quantity „. 

 The root-hold is absurdly inadequate to the mammoth' 

 bulk which it is intended to support, and in which the ele- 

 ments of decay are at work ere it has fairly begun its 

 growth. Many and many a giant falls down the canon 

 side a victim to an insecure foundation and early decay, 

 though it has literally followed the Scriptural advice to 

 build upon a rock. Their foot-hold is such that it seems 

 impossible for them to derive any material sustenance 

 from it, so their nutriment must be largely atmospheric. 



Out of all proportion indeed, are the small, yellowish- 

 white blossoms which grow in clusters at the terminals of 

 the branches. They have all the characteristics of the or- 

 dinary cactus bloom, but one does not gather them for a 

 nosegay for pertinent reasons. They are carefully protect- 

 ed by innumerable thorns, ferociously in evidence at all 

 times, and which entirely cover the rich, crimson fruit. 

 This is about the size of a small egg and develops in about 

 three months from the flower. The Indians gather it 

 with a sharp, pointed stick, rubbing off the fine thorns 

 with a woolen rag, and find a ready sale for it in its sea- 

 son. The first ripe fruit that I saw, I was greatly inter- 

 ested in, and eagerly gathered it with my gloved hands 

 but it was quickly dropped into my lap, for the tiny^. 

 needle-like prickers penetrated my gloves, entirely ruining, 

 them, and from thence sought their way into my fingers 

 producing painful sores. The front of my riding habit 

 wcis filled with the tiny bristles, and could only be worn, 

 after a long and tedious search for them. But this trial 

 by thorns is only one of the many vicissitudes to which 

 the tenderfoot is subjected when fresh from the country 

 *'back east." 



The fruit of this desert tree is really very palatable 

 when denuded of its spiny covering, tasting something like 

 a ripe fig, but sweeter and richer in flavor. When I be- 



