98 



been mostly killed by the winter. My best catch was on a grays sod. I found that 

 a freeze or a drought catching the plants before the roots have penetrated tho soil 

 are equally disastrous. On some meadows of previous sowings I am now cutting a 

 heavy crop of almost pure Lespedeza. The reverses of this year will not loosen the 

 hold of the grass on my estimation in the least. 



(Plate 98.) 



MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 



\ 



OPUNTIA. 



Opuntia Engelmanni (Nopal; Prickly Pear). 



Cue of tho principal characteristics of the vegetation of arid districts 

 is the prevalence of different species of Cactacece 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 cylin- 

 drical or club-shaped joints. 



Of the flat, broad -join ted kind there are many -species. The Opuntia 

 vulgaris is common in sandy ground in the Eastern Atlantic States. In 

 western Texas and other parts of the arid regions reaching to Califor- 

 nia there is a much larger kind, of the same general appearance, which 

 is called Opuntia Engelmanni. This is a stout, coarse-looking plant, 

 growing from 4 to G 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 J to 1J inches long. They are apparently leaf- 

 less, 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 3inches in diameter, which are succeeded by a round- 

 ish fruit, nearly 2 inches long, tilled with a purplish pulp, generally of 

 an insipid taste, while imbedded in the pulp are numbers of small, hard 

 seeds. The common name of this Opuntia among the Mexicans is u nopal," 

 and some of the species have fruit which is edible and 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 impor- 

 tance. An extended account of its use is given in Bulletin 3. of this 

 Division. The usual method of preparing the plant for feeding is to 

 singe the prickles over a brisk blaze. 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 fod- 

 der in times of scarcity, but when properly prepared and fed with hay 

 and grain it forms a valuable article of food for cattle. 



J. A. Aveut, Sr., Bexar County, southern Texas: 



I have been feeding prickly pear for thirty years. It is an excellent feed for cattle 

 if fed with fodder or hay of any kind ; when not too full of sap it may he fed alone. 

 If cut in January it can be fed until March 20, but if left standing it is not good feed 

 after tho 20th of February. There is nothing that cattle like better than prickly 

 pear when accustomed to it. We feed it only in dry years when grass is scarce. We 

 begin feeding about the 1st of November and continue until the 20th of February, 



