57 
DIFFERENT SPECIES OF THE CACTUS 
perfectly formed snowflakes that only Nature can make. These needles, 
however, are so sharp that it is no uncommon thing when they are 
stepped on for them to penetrate through the leather of shoes and boots. 
When a boy running barefoot upon the prairies, the writer had 
almost countless encounters with these plants. It is needless to say that 
the memory of them is unpleasant. 
The flowers of this plant are. of 
the most beautiful and delicate 
shades of pink, and there is no pret¬ 
tier sight than the broad prairies 
covered with these cheering blos¬ 
soms. 
Along the creek-bottoms in the 
same locality is another species with 
broad, thick, leaf-like branches. 
These grow more in taller grass and 
are often bit off. with a cluster of 
grass by cattle while grazing. My 
first experience with anything of 
this kind occurred while I was herd¬ 
ing cattle in my early boyhood. One 
of the cattle, getting a bite of cactus 
in its mouth, began to bellow in a 
furious manner and to paw the 
earth, while the rest of the herd also 
came running and bellowing. This 
was kept up till the unfortunate animal managed to get the cactus out 
of its mouth. The broken-off thorns made its mouth sore for weeks. 
The two species just mentioned are the commonest kinds and are 
probably found over more area of the prairies and plains of the eastern 
slope of the Rockies than any other species. Still the cactus family is 
very large, and there are, species of almost every shape and size. Ari¬ 
zona perhaps contains the largest variety. In this State is found almost 
every member of the cactus family from the diminutive ‘ ‘ fish-hook ’ ’ to 
the giant saguaros that grow to a height of fifty feet. The latter cactus 
is the official flower of the State. 
The tall saguaro (see thej illustration) is very common in Arizona,. 
It bears a. very beautiful blossom, which is always on the very top.' In 
