330 Transactions. — Botany. 



Professor George W. Curtis, College Station, Texas : — 

 "It is used quite extensively for cattle and sheep. The 

 prickles are singed off, or the whole plant is boiled and fed 

 mixed with bran. 



" Has your attention been called to the use of tlie prickly 

 pear as a lubricant ? — Certain of the western railroads have 

 used it with excellent results. It is gathered in Texas, 

 shipped to Saint Louis, ground up coarsely, and pine tar 

 added to keep the albuminoids from decomposition (I do not 

 know whether anything else is added or not), after which it is 

 barrelled and returned. The total cost is 2^ cents per pound, 

 and it is said to do the work of 5 or 6 cents' worth of grease 

 and rags formerly used. It is especially useful in preventing 

 and cooling hot boxes. If this comes into general use it will 

 open a new field of production." 



Dr. A. E. Carothers, Cotulla, La Salle : — 



" I have fed 400 beeves, and am now feeding 800 more on 

 this food. From the analysis furnished by Mr. Eichardson, 

 of your [Government] department, I found that the Cactus 

 was deficient in albuminoids, and, from the well-known rich- 

 ness of the cotton-seed oil-cakes in those elements, I selected 

 it to supply the deficiency, which it did very well. ... I 

 feed per head about 601b. of the Cactus and an average of 

 about 61b. of the meal per day for ninety days. A train-load 

 of 330 head of these cattle sold last week in Chicago at 

 4|- cents. The meat is singularly juicy and tender, the fat 

 well distributed among the muscles. I have sold it at 1 cent 

 per pound gross over grass-cattle in San Antonio." 



Edward Beaumont, Jemes, New Mexico : — 

 "The Cactus is not used here to any great extent, but it 

 makes good food for horned cattle, especially cows. The 

 thorns are scorched off over a blaze of brush or straw. When 

 cattle get used to eating it they come running as soon as they 

 see a smoke." 



0. F. Wright, Temescal, San Bernadiue County, Cali- 

 fornia : — 



" Many kinds of Cactus grow here. The flat kind, or prickly 

 pear, is abundant in places. Cattle, goats, and sheep eat it 

 sometimes without any preparation when very hungry ; but it 

 looks as though needles and pins would be a pleasanter and 

 safer diet. I have never known, however, any bad results to 

 come from eating it. After boiling to soften the thorns it 

 makes good food for milch cows, and is much relished. The 

 trouble of boiling prevents its extensive use." 



I may also mention another introduced plant (a common 

 British weed here in Napier) as being extensively used and 



