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THE BOTANIST. — 
| The plant belongs to the order Chenopodiacee, or the same order 
~ as the common Pigweed. (Plate I.) 
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gee NopaL or Cactus (Opuntia Hngelmanne). 
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+ One of the principal characteristics of the vegetation of arid dis- 
- tricts is the prevalence of different species of Cactacew, or cactus- 
like plants. These are exceedingly variable in form and size, and 
are divided into several genera. Of these the Opuntias are extremely 
~~. common. There are. two kinds of these; one with broad, flat joints, 
~ and one with cylindrical or club-shaped joints. 
ae Of the flat, broad-jointed kind there are many species. The Opuntia 
vulgaris is common in sandy ground in the Hastern Atlantic States, 
~ In western Texas and other parts of the arid regions reaching to Cal- 
_ ifornia ‘is a much larger kind, of the same general appearance, which 
is called Opuntia Hngelmanni, This is astout, coarse-looking plant, 
- growing from 4 to 6 feet high, and much branched. The joints are, 
in large specimens, a foot long and 9 or 10 inches broad, with groups 
of stout spines from one-half to 1; inches long. They are apparentl 
leafless, but in young specimens minute fleshy leaves may be detected. 
‘Springing from the side of these joints at the proper season are hand- 
some flowers 2 or 3 inches in diameter, which are succeeded by 
a roundish fruit, nearly 2 inches long, filled with a purplish pulp, 
generally of an insipid taste, while imbedded in the pulp are num- 
bers of hard, smallseeds, The common name of this Opuntia among 
the Mexicans is Nopal, and some of the species have fruit. which is 
 edibleand highly esteemed. The use of the above species of Prickly 
-- Pear or Cactus for forage in the dry regions of Texas and westward 
is a matter of considerable importance. An extended account of its 
use is given in Bulletin 3 of this division. The usual method of 
reparing the plant for feeding is to singe the prickles over a brisk 
laze. To some extent, especially by sheep, the plant is eaten in the 
natural state, but serious consequences frequently result in such cases. 
Its chief use is as a substitute for other fodder in times of scarcity, 
but when properly prepared and fed with hay and grain it forms a 
valuable article of food for cattle. (Plate IT.) 
ne. SAINFOIN (Onobrychis sativa, Lam.). 
This leguminous forage plant has recently been introduced into this 
country under the name of ‘* Asperset.” 
Esparsette is the German name; Sainfoin is the name used in France 
and England. It is a perennial, having somewhat the appearance 
of Lucerne, but of smaller size and different habit. It seldom ex- 
_, ceeds 1} feet in height, with a weak stem, rather long, pinnate leaves, 
. and flowers of a pink color in a loose spike, 2 to 4 inches in length, 
' raised on a long, naked peduncle or stalk. The flowers are succeeded 
’ _ by short, single-seeded pods, which are strongly reticulated or marked 
_ by raised linesand depressed pits, Itis anative of central and south- 
-. ern Europe and western Asia, and in Europe has long been in culti- 
vation, From experiments made by the Duke of Bedford im Eng- 
land we learn that it was first introduced to English farmers as a 
plant for cultivation from Flanders and France, where it has been long 
cultivated. Itwas found to be less productive than the broad-leaved 
- clovers, but on chalky and gravelly soils there was abundant proof 
of the superiority of Sainfoin. It produces but little herbage the first 
' year, but improves in quantity for several years. 
