REPORT OF THE CHEMIST.’ 988 
Agave decipiens called Maguey or Mescal, and used by the Indians 
as food, Of it he says: | 
The undeveloped leaves are folded into each other like a bud, and are perfectly 
white and soft as long as no sunlight reachesthem. The taste is sweet, afterwards 
somewhat biting. These heart leaves when exposed to heat assume a very sweet, 
at the same time sour taste. When roasted several hours, they become soft enough 
to remove the fibrous portions. 
There is no peculiar smell, and the change is like that of no known 
substance. No starch or similar matter is present, and a reducing 
sugar is formed without the aid of acid, although none is originally 
present. Mere boiling with water is sufficient. The products of the 
inversion were proved to be dextrose or a similar reducing sugar and 
citric acid. The peculiar substance is therefore a glucoside. The 
sugar in Dasylirion and that of Agave are so much alike that, being 
derived from such similar plants, their relation is of interest. 
The Opuntia species, which was next examined, it was thought 
might resemble the two preceding plants. The specimens which 
were forwarded to Washington were sent through the courtesy of 
Hon, A, J. Dull, of Harrisburg, Pa., with the request that an 
analysis be made, as the plant was of importance for forage purposes 
and was attracting some attention in southern Texas. The species 
was not identified with certainty, but waseither Opuntia tuna or one 
closely allied. It is known by the Mexicans as Cacannapo, and in 
this country as cactus or Prickly Pear, the succulent joints, not 
properly the leaves, being the portion of value for fodder. The re- 
sults of the ordinary fodder analysis were sent to Mr. Dull with the 
comment that the material showed a deficiency in albuminoids, and 
should be combined for feeding purposes with substances rich in 
nitrogen. At the close of the season a reply was received in regard 
to the results of the use of the plant from Dr. A. G. Carrothers as 
follows, which explains the peculiarities and uses of the different 
Opuntia species. 
In compliance with your request of July 27, I send to-day by mail specimens of the 
thick cactus known by the Mexicans as Napal de Buey, or the ‘‘ Cactus of the Ox,” 
together with specimens of its fruit, the flowers being unattainable at this season, 
collected at Iuka Ranch, La Salle County, Tex., 28 miles northof Mr. Dull’s ranch. 
As to practical information in regard to the application of the plant as fodder in 
Texas and Mexico, I will state that I have studied this matter for a couple of years, 
believing that it possessed a considerable food value. 
While living in Mexico ! saw that the Mexican teamsters, who did the freighting 
of the country with oxen, were able to work their steers all winter and keep them 
in good condition by collecting the pear leaves, burning the thorns off them,and 
feeding them tothe oxen. I found the Mexican freighters in Texas doing freighting 
on the same food, alongside of the Americans who were feeding high priced corn to 
their animals, and maintaining their animals in as good or better condition than 
their competitors. From this Il concluded that the Prickly Pear-was rich in growth 
producing elements. 
About 1878 or 1879, while on a visit to the Leona Ranch Company in Zarella 
County, Tex., the foreman told me that he had just received a consignment of 52 
thoroughbred and high grade Durham bulls from Kentucky, late in the fali, and 
did not know how to feedthem. They cost about $150 each. L[advised him to scorch 
the thorns off the pear leaves, chop them up, put them into troughs, and sprinkle 
them with corn-meal and salt, and feed them to his bulls at night, allowing them to 
graze on the Mesquite grass (Buchloé dactyloides) during the day. He did so, and 
next year he assured me that his bulls wintered in good style, and were fat and 
vigorous the next spring. His wife also volunteered the information that she 
thanked me for the suggestion, as she had fed some of her milch cows on the same 
food and that she had made as fine butter all through the winter as she had ever 
made in Illinois. Since that I have fed my milch cows at the ranch on the scorched 
pear alone, with marked benefit to their milk and butter-producing qualities. Several 
