Notes. 389 



It has been found that for nursery purposes, planting' 3 feet 

 apart is suitable, but for permanent plantations 8 feet apart is 

 satisfactory. 



It is unnecessary to state that the best results are obtained where 

 soil is well prepared, kept free of weeds, and tlie young plants given 

 a good start. 



September is the best time to start plantations in areas where 

 frosts occur, because the older the young plant is when it experiences 

 the first frosts, the better it withstands them. 



Observations at Grootfontein showed that resistance to frost is to 

 a great extent a matter of size and maturity. Well-grown mature 

 leaves resist frost much better than poorly grown or young leaves. 

 Although September in any area would seem to be tlie best mojith for 



/ 



Spineless Cactus Propagation. 



Fig. 3. — Method H. Moisture from irrigation water has entered 

 the cut and decayed the yilant. 



planting (for this is the period when leaves are naturally inclined 

 to start growing) plantations may be started at any period of the 

 year in districts where frost is a factor of no account. As indicating 

 the rapidity of growth obtained under Karroo conditions, it may 

 be stated that at Grootfontein there have been plants 14 months' old 

 with as many as 60 leaves. 



Literature on the subject of spineless cactus as a fodder for 

 stock has already been published by the Department, and further 

 information on the subject is now being prepared for publication at 

 an early date. 



