Aug. i6, I9IS Prickly-Pears as a Feed for Dairy Cous 407 



the material used in these experiments represented the growth of the first, 

 second, and third seasons. The ground was put in a moderate state of 

 tilth, and single-jointed cuttings were set about 30 inches apart in rows. 

 In previous work of the Department at San Antonio and elsewhere, the 

 rows were 6 feet apart, but on account of the greater rapidity of growth 

 at Brownsville, this distance was increased to 8 feet. Moderate cultiva- 

 tion was given for the first year and the early part of the second; but 

 after August of the second season little cultivating could be done, and 

 after September cultivation was abandoned because the plants filled the 

 space between the rows, preventing the horses from passing. 



The yields of prickh--pear obtained in this field were not at all typical 

 of what may be expected in this delta region. The plot of ground used 

 was badly infested with Bermuda grass, was flooded considerably during 

 hea\-y- rains, and had three depressions of very stifiF Cameron clay running 

 through it. These conditions very materially reduced the yields. 



OUTLIXE OF THE FIRST VEAR'S TESTS 



In selecting materials for use in comparison with prickly-pear, such 

 feeds were chosen as are common to its growing region. It was thought 

 best, therefore, to compare the value of prickly-pear with sorghum hay, 

 sorghum silage, and cottonseed hulls, since these are the feeds which 

 these cacti might replace either wholly or in part. In selecting the ani- 

 mals an effort was made to secure mature but not aged cows that gave 

 e\'idence of being at least fair milk producers. Accordingly, 13 grade 

 Jersey cows that had been fresh but a few weeks were purchased near 

 Brownsville (PI. LXII, fig. 2). They were somewhat better than the 

 ordinary- Texas dairy stock, and were accustomed to eating prickly- 

 pear. These cows were grouped and fed as shown in Table I. 



Table I. — Grouping and rations of cows in first year's tests ^ 



Xumber of 

 cows in 



^™"P- First period (So days) 



Second period (80 days). 



Grain, hay, and heavj- prickly-pear Grain, hay, and medixim prickly-p>ear. 



Grain, hay, and mediiim prickly-pear Grain, hay, and heavy- prickly-jjear. 



Grain, hay, and medium prickly-pear 1 Grain and hay. 



3 Grain and hay ! Grain, hay, and medium prickly-pear. 



I Cottonseed meal and heavy prickly-pear. 



<» There was a transition period of 10 days between the two 8c-day periods. 



6 One of the cows in this group died; the data for this cow have been disregarded in calculating the 

 results. 



The first and second groups were for the comparison of medium and 

 large quantities of prickly-pear as well as the relative values of hay 

 and prickly-pear; the third and fourth groups were for comparing the rela- 



