264 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" On account of several practical considerations the prickly pears are of 

 much more value than either of the other 2 groups. They are more numerous 

 in the wild state, they adapt themselves to cultivation more readily, make a 

 more rapid gi-owth, and are more readily propagated from cuttings, all of 

 which are of vital importance in the economic use and handling of the crop. 

 Practically all of the Mexican prickly pears are fed to stock to a greater or 

 less extent, especially those growing where fodder is the most scarce, but there 

 is only one cylindrical-jointed species {Opuntia imbricata) which is used to 

 any appreciable extent. The experience of the writers has shown that Cereus 

 giganteus is readily eaten by cattle when chopped up, but they know of no 

 actual feeding having been conducted with it on any commercial scale." 



As regards cactus rations the authors point out that 40 lbs. of cactus with 

 10 lbs. of wheat bran and 12 lbs. of corn stover would furnish nutritive 

 material in about the proper proportion for milch cows. " If a ration is desired 

 in which the cactus is fed with dried brewers' grain and cotton-seed meal, 

 it could be made by feeding 60 lbs. of cactus with 14 lbs. of brewers' gi-ain and 

 1 lb. of cotton-seed meal." Other rations are also suggested. 



In a discussion of the food value of different parts of the plant, it is pointed 

 out that the seeds of many varieties, particularly of the genus Opuntia, are 

 hard and woody and to a great extent at least pass through the animals un- 

 changed. With other cacti the seeds are very different in character. 



" There is no doubt that burros, which commonly feed upon the fruits of the 

 viznaga (Echinocactus tcislizeni) , get a deal of nourishment out of the seeds, 

 which are very oily and easily masticated." 



Other questions connected with the conditions favorable to the growth of 

 prickly pears, the nomenclature of cacti, and related questions are discussed 

 and some data are given regarding the use of cacti in ]Mexico as human food. 



The digestibility of cattle foods, J. B. Lindsey, E. B. Holland, and P. H. 

 Smith {Masi^aclnisctts Sfh. Rpt. 1906. pp. 96-136).— The digestibility of a num- 

 ber of feeding stuffs was studied with sheep, the same methods being followed 

 as in earlier work of which this is a continuation (E. S. R., 17, p. 279). The 

 average results obtained follow : 



Cocffloienis of dii/cstibiUty of feeding .stuff a in r.rpcrinirnt.'^ wilh .sheep. 



Kind of feed. 



Soy-bean fodder 



Malt sprouts 



Sucreiie dairy feed 



Holstein sugar feed 



Macon sugar feed 



Hominy feed 



Buckwheat middlings 



Oat middlings 



Eureka silage corn stover 



Pride of the North corn stover 



English hay 



Early Amber sorghum 



Pride of the North corn fodder 

 Porto Rico molasses, 150 gm . . . 

 Porto Rico molasses, 250 gm . . . 

 Porto Rico molasses, 250 gm . . . 



Gluten feed 



Green diamond sugar feed 



Sea Island cotton-seed meal. . . 



Red wheat meal , . 



Learning corn silage 



White winter wheat meal 



Feed barley mjeal 



Num- 

 ber of 

 tests. 



Dry 

 matter. 



Per cent. 

 64.82 

 8L87 

 69. 48 

 71.31 

 70. 53 

 87. 58 



75. 04 

 89. 65 

 54.-40 

 53.97 



62. 51 

 68.37 

 70. 56 

 99.01 



90. 05 



74. 52 

 95. 81 

 (15. 54 

 67. 95 

 K5.78 

 70.02 

 88. 28 

 88.97 



Protein. 



Per cent. 

 80. 26 

 75. 92 

 60. 79 

 65. 65 

 58.88 

 69.54 

 85. 13 

 80. 36 

 48.29 

 44.85 

 56. 75 

 48.14 

 62. 74 

 25.30 



91.09 

 69.57 

 78.39 

 67.10 

 63.91 

 81.79 

 88.08 



Fat. 



Per cent. 

 67. 50 

 86. 60 

 94.41 

 87. S3 

 82. 37 

 88.16 

 89.36 

 93. 22 

 66.58 

 64.40 

 51.09 

 62.75 

 76.06 



77. 69 

 83. 57 

 100. 00 

 79.97 

 84.64 

 64. 35 

 86.34 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 



Per cent. 

 74.61 

 85. 30 

 72. 54 

 80. 50 

 82. 12 

 92.61 

 83. 27 

 95. 27 

 52.93 

 53.88 

 63. 53 

 73.70 

 77.04 

 99. 28 

 95. 33 

 85. 87 

 95. 23 

 74. 39 

 78.18 

 92.47 

 72. 89 

 93.49 

 93.01 



Crude 

 liber. 



Per cent. 

 47. 55 

 99. 42 

 71.94 

 44.07 

 43.88 

 79.96 

 16. 92 

 48.93 

 59. 06 

 60.25 

 67. 2S 

 68. 47 

 64. 82 



126. 19 

 43.78 

 40. 32 



71. 02 

 '76.I6' 



Per cent. 

 39.29 

 19.12 

 37. 72 

 32.97 

 20.42 

 48.88 

 35.56 

 35.56 

 46.01 

 31.09 

 45.90 

 41. 72 

 34.43 

 86.09 

 52.56 

 64.69 

 88.37 

 37.66 

 84.56 

 27.68 

 49.83 

 29.60 

 37.64 



