May 8

T-bone Thursday Take over present.... Today´s Story.
Hi guys!!! today I have for you the story of the nopal....
The nopal cactus has been influential in the emergence of several major world cultures.The plant predates the Aztec culture in Mexico,going back thousands of years and was used frequently as food and medicine.During The Pre-Columbian period,the nopal spread to both North and South America easily,due to the Nopal`s ability to cross pollinate and Propagate quickly.It also enjoyed popularity with early European explorers who used the Nopal to treat scurvy and to fight starvation.These same explorers also brought it to Europe,Asia and Africa with nearly two hundred species having now developed as a result.The plant became importantA  for drought relief and food for livestock,and was also used to stiffen cloth,purify water and to waterproof paint.Cattle fed with the Nopal were said to have a unique flavor to their meat and milk.
The Nopal hasn`t been welcomed by everyone,however,and was classified as a noxious weed when it was introduced in Australia in the late 19th century to begin a cochineal dye industry in Australia,which was to compete with Spain and Portugal,which dominated the industry worldwide.Unfortunately,The eastern region of Australia was devastated by the plant, and special acts of parliament were enacted to halt it`s spread.It was first used to begin a cochineal dye industry in Australia,to compete with Spain and Portugal,which dominated the industry worldwide.The cactus attracts the cochineal insect which turns red when squashed after it has feed off of plants,which creates the dye.The dye was actually used by the British,who had their own fields within the established spanish fields,to dye their soldiers uniforms red.
Despite their best efforts,the cactus was utterly out of control by 1925,having spread over some twenty five million acres in Queensland and New South Wales.It was now beginning to spread at the rate of half a million acres a year with no end in sight.With machinery and chemical means of killing it having failed,bounties were actually paid for the destruction of Emus,Emu eggs,crows and the scrub Magpie,all of which contributed to the spread of the cactus.

Hope you enjoy it!!
lots of love...
Queen