101 



flwoll np. Wo have had them do HO when we thought there was danger of its proving 

 fatal. They can bo given a feed at night, however, and then worked the following 

 morning without danger of any injurious results. 



H. J. Hunter, M. D., Palestine, Tex. : 



West of the Colorado River, in this Stale, the cactus grows in vast forests. I have 

 seen cattle and sheep feed on it as it grows wild. Stockmen cut it on the ground, 

 singe off the prickles, and cut in small hits for their stock. 



Mr. Alonzo Millett, of Kansas City, Mo. : 



I confine the treatment of my stock in La Salle County, Tex., for their first six 

 weeks or two months, in that locality, almost exclusively to the feeding of prickly 

 pear, which simple measure has proved highly successful, and is worthy of more gen- 

 eral trial as a preventive of Texas fever. There is a cactus, called by the Mexicans 

 Nopal de Castilliano, which is cultivated in this State for its fruit. This plant grows 

 very large and yields enormous crops of fruit, which is sold on the street for food and 

 to make beer. The young growth of the cactus is used in early spring by the Mexi- 

 cans of western Texas as food. It is cut in small pieces, mixed with Hour in a batter, 

 and fried. It is said to be as palatable as egg-plant. 



Otaues F. Wright, Temescal, Sail Bernardino County, Cal. : 



Many kinds of cactus grow here. The flat kind, or prickly pear, is abundant in 

 places. Cattle, goats, and sheep cat it sometimes without any preparation when very 

 hungry, but it looks as though needles and pins would be a pleasanterand safer diet. 

 I have never known, however, any bad results to come from eating it. After boiling 

 to soften the thorns it makes good food for milch cows, and is much relished. The 

 trouble of boiling prevents its extensive use. 



(Plate 99.) 



EUROTIA. 



Eurotia lanata (White Sage). 



It is a perennial, half shrubby plant, growing a foot or two high, with slender, 

 woolly twigs, which are abundantly covered with linear sessile leaves an inch and a 

 half long, with a velvety surface of a grayish color and with the margin rolled back. 

 They are mostly in small fascicles or clusters. The flowlrs are minute and in small 

 clusters in the axils of the leaves, chiefly on the upper part of the stem. The flowers 

 are of two kinds, male and female, on separate parts of the stems, or sometimes on 

 separate plants. The small fruit is covered with long and close whitish hairs. The 

 plant belongs to the order Chenopodiacecc, or the same order as the common pig- weed. 



The plant known as " white sage/ 7 or " winter fat," is abundant in 

 places through the Rocky Mountain region from Mexico to British 

 America. Prof. S. M. Tracy, who visited portions of Nevada, Arizona, 

 and adjoining territory, in 18S7, investigating the native forage plants, 

 under the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture, states that in 

 the more arid districts of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, this plant, with 

 grease- wood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) , arc the most highly valued plants 

 for winter forage. An important fact in regard to the plant is its 

 ability to thrive in somewhat alkaline soils. It is employed as a remedy 

 for intermittent fevers. (Plate 100.) 



