TRICHOSERUS PACHANOI: Fruit of the Gods Once upon a time, long before the beginnings of the great human civilisations, a comet travelling close through the our solar system exploded as it passed close by this planet Earth. Fragments of this space traveller showered the Earth, carrying exotic organisms and the spores of strange flora. As the Indians of Peru and Equador came to know the progeny of this cataclysm, they hailed to the Gods for the provision of their holy sacrement, trichoserus pachanoi, The San Pedro Cactus. While the western empirical mind may scoff at this, there can be no doubt that the association of the mighty San Pedro with the heavens and space is appropriate and compelling. FERTILITY RITES Trichoserus Pachanoi is one of the faster growing cacti. A columnar cactus with six to eight ribs, dark green, spines: small at nodes, sometime none, large stands can grow to 18 feet! Flowers are white, reddish brown outside, and very fragrant when in bloom. Cacti with four ribs are very sacred and highly prized by Indians familiar with this plant. San Pedro grows best in the summer, when the radiant warmth of the Sun awaken feelings of vigor in all life, and provide an abundance of energy for rapid development. During these months, San Pedro's roots are sent deep into the soil, and at this time buds, or rootlets, may appear at the base of the upper branches of the mature cacti. This is the ideal time to take cuttings. When taking cuttings, or harvesting, always leave the rooted stump, preferably with several areoles, or spine-pads. It would be silly to disturb or discard a well-rooted stump, which if allowed to regenerate, will provide next year's crop. For the best success with cuttings, start with a section at least 6 inches long, and make sure the cut is clean and smooth. Let the section dry in a cool, dark place for one or two weeks until a corky scab forms and dries thouroughly. Place the cutting in moist sand to a depth of 3-4 inches. To speed rooting, make several nicks along the bottom of the spine ridges, and dip in a rooting compound such as Rootone or Superthrive. Your cuttings like partial shade for siestas until they are well- rooted. RUMORS AND TALL TALES San Pedro is the sacramental ally of the Peruvian and Equadorian Indians. No other plant contains as much mescaline as Pedro, with the exception of course of his relative, Peyote. Average dose: select a three inch diameter by seven inch long section. Discoloration does not affect potency. Finely chop outer tissues, discarding fibrous outer core. Boil in twice it's volume of water for 30 minutes, squeeze dry with a cheesecloth. Boil remaining pulp in equal volume of water for 20 minutes. Extract juices, and combine with first extract. Serve chilled, some suggest a tequila chaser. Compost pulp! Alternative method for preparation and storage is to slice 1/3 inch deep strips from Pedro's surface. For ritual effect, play Peruvian flute music. Dry slices in the sun or oven at 125 to 200 degrees. Store in an airtight container. Average dry dose is 25 grams. Reports have it that 75% of Pedro's active ingredient is concentrated just under the skin. This layer apparantly is to protect from hungry pests. Luckily, Pedro has very little of the alkaloids such as those in peyote which make your stomach uncomfortable! CACTI NEED LOVE TOO Like most cacti and succulents, San Pedrp will flourish best in a sandy, rich well-drained soil. You can prepare such a soil using a 1:1:1 mixture of topsoil, sand, and perlite. Clay pots will allow the soil to breathe easily and help avoid one of the main hazards: root rot. An inch or two of gravel or charcoal in the pot bottom isn't a bad idea for drainage. While not essential, a fertilizer applied in the spring will give Pedro a maximal chance of growing up plump and potent. Water as needed, but the soil MUST dry out between waterings. During the winter, or cool weather, overwatering will tend to cause root rot. Better to err on the dry side. Mature, well-rooted San Pedro like the long full bright sun, while rooting stock needs shade part of the day for naps. CAUTION: Our friend hates gas, and will quickly show its displeasure if grown in the kitchen or near any other gas appliances like heaters. OTHER READING: Flesh of the Gods, Peter Furst. Lloydias Journal FOR WHOLESALE INFORMATION, FAN MAIL, TECHNICAL ADVICE, and ROOTING STOCK: Mr. Pedro P.O. Box 4611 Berkely CA 94704 (Author's note: Any plants accompanying this manual are sold for use as biological specimens only. In addition, be aware that it is illegal to use hallucinagens, but legal to possess or sell San Pedro Cactus as a specimen or for cultivation. Any alternative use of the specimens is the responsability of the owner, and is not reccomended by the author.) (Typist's note: Clearly the above is the author's attempt to cover his ass legally. But use of the recipies contained in this document and ingestion of the product are condoned by the typist; I do not have specimens for sale and am not liable to be procecuted for sale of controlled substances. I am exercising my entirely legal right to distribute information and express my opinion that the use of mescaline is an enjoyable and beneficial experience. And I certainly admire the nads of anyone who gives this information in a pamphlet to be given to the purchaser of Trichoserus pachanoi with or without such a disclaimer.) X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X Another file downloaded from: The NIRVANAnet(tm) Seven & the Temple of the Screaming Electron Taipan Enigma 510/935-5845 Burn This Flag Zardoz 408/363-9766 realitycheck Poindexter Fortran 510/527-1662 Lies Unlimited Mick Freen 801/278-2699 The New Dork Sublime Biffnix 415/864-DORK The Shrine Rif Raf 206/794-6674 Planet Mirth Simon Jester 510/786-6560 "Raw Data for Raw Nerves" X-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-X