VARIOUS FARM PRODUCTS 589 



conducted has always been sorghum, and since the experiments were 

 started this has been placed in a silo. In the season of 1906 about 1 

 ton of silage was secured to the acre, and in 1907 about 2^2 tons. 

 These are estimates made in the silo. 



In feeding tests upon the ranch in 1905 it was found that 6 

 pounds of prickly pear produced the same results in feeding dairy 

 cattle as 1 pound of dry sorghum hay. If 1 ton of hay is assumed 

 to be equivalent in feeding value to 3 tons of silage, then the hay 

 production from sorghum has been on an average for the two years 

 only seven-twelfths of a ton to the acre per annum. This seven- 

 twelfths of a ton of hay, assuming the relative value of sorghum 

 hay to prickly pear to be as 6 to 1, is equivalent to only 3 l /2 tons of 

 pear. In other words, prickly pear has produced more than six 

 times as much roughage during the two years as sorghum. Of 

 course, the yield of sorghum mentioned was abnormally small, but, 

 seasons occur every now and then in this region when crops are 

 short, and while they may be assumed to be at the lowest point of 

 production during these two years it is against these years of short- 

 age that it is necessary to provide. The plants are most advanta- 

 geously grown from single-joint cuttings, which are easily prepared 

 cutting up all of a full-grown plant into single joints. Plants 

 should be established about 2 feet apart in 6-foot rows. When the 

 ground is moist and well prepared, cuttings can be distributed on 

 the surface of the ground. When these conditions are not met the 

 cuttings should be placed in a furrow and partially covered with 

 another furrow. Planting may be done at any time of the year, 

 except during the hottest and driest part of summer. Cultivation 

 should be shallow and sufficiently frequent to keep down the weeds. 

 Plants set in February may be harvested at any time after 24 

 months. 



It is believed that it will be found advantageous in harvesting 

 to singe the spines of the standing plants and then cut them down 

 to be grazed. However, good results have been obtained without 

 cutting. It is possible to singe after cutting, but it is a little more 

 difficult and will probably be attended with more waste. It will be 

 advantageous in harvesting to leave a stump of two to four joints 

 rather than to harvest too closely. 



Those forms which are most vigorous and most free from dis- 

 ease should be selected for stock to plant. In the vicinity of San 

 Antonio, Texas, this is the typical form of Opuntia lindheimeri. 

 With good labor and proper management this expense, it is believed, 

 the cost of planting will not exceed $6 or $7 an acre. Even $9 

 per acre is low for a plantation that does not require renewing for 

 fifteen or twenty years. The spineless forms thus far grown (about 

 twenty varieties) are practically useless under present conditions 

 in Texas except for breeding purposes. A conservative estimate of 

 the annual production of prickly pear under cultivation is 22 4-5 

 tons, or enough roughage for one bovine animal for a year from 

 each acre of ground. This is to be harvested biennially. Cattle, 

 sheep, goats, swine, and even chickens will eat the crop readily at 



