THE CACTUS 145 



The young plants must have protection from 

 marauding beasts. Squirrels and rabbits are 

 particularly fond of the young slabs, and in a 

 country infested by these creatures it may be 

 necessary to fence in a field of young cactus un- 

 til it attains a considerable growth. Needless to 

 say, it must be protected from the encroach- 

 ments of farm animals, as they would destroy 

 the young plants utterly. 



When the Opuntias attain a reasonable size, 

 it becomes, as already pointed out, a perennial 

 source of forage. The plants live to an indefinite 

 age, and year by year they put out new slabs, 

 which may be cut at any season for feeding 

 purposes. 



It is best to cut the forage, and not to give the 

 animals access to the growing plants, as in the 

 latter case they would waste the feed and 

 seriously injure or destroy the plants. The cen- 

 tral stems of the old plants, however, attain a 

 woody character that generally protects them 

 against extermination by stock. 



In practical feeding, it is desirable, where 

 possible, to combine the Opuntia slabs with 

 alfalfa, bran, and other carbonaceous and es- 

 pecially dry foods, like straw, hay, and the like. 

 The Opuntia slabs may be fed as an exclusive 

 diet, and in this case farm animals will have no 



