SOAPWEED OR PALMILLA AS EMERGENCY FORAGE 



designated sample No. 2. These samples were analyzed by the chemists 

 of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station, with the results given 

 below. As would be expected the sample representing the younger 

 material shows a larger amount of moisture, crude protein, and fat ; 

 and a smaller amount of ash, crude fiber and carbohydrates than the 

 sample from the older stems. Sample No. 1 contains less than one- 

 half as much ash, slightly more than one-half as much crude fiber and 



A mature plant of Yucca elata growing at an altitude of 3000 feet. 



almost twice as much crude protein as Sample Xo. 2. The analyses 

 showed saponin present in some quantity, which is not surprising. 

 This substance is considered by some authorities as a poison when 

 occurring in considerable quantity in plants. Thus far no ill effects 

 have been noted from saponin in the feeding of yucca over a period of 

 two seasons, and in all probability none are to be expected. 



