5 TIMELY HINT 135 



In addition to the chemical analyses made by the Experiment Sta- 

 tion, the writer made a microscopic study of the stems and leaves. 

 Curiously enough, no starch was noted in any instance. In place of 

 starch, there was a rather large amount of glucose or grape sugar. This 

 accounts for the sweet taste of the forage. The sugar was present 

 both in the stems and in the leaf bases. The leaves are composed of 

 an unusually large amount of woody cells or fiber and give but a slight 

 test for sugar. Only a trace of oils could be found in occasional cells. 

 An unusually large amount of crystals of calcium oxalate was present. 

 In chemical analysis this would appear as ash. 



ANALYSES OF SAMPLES OF YUCCA FORAGE. 



No. 1 No. 2 

 Young stems Old stems 



Moisture 72.10% 63.50% 



Ash 1.55% 3.34% 



Crude protein .' 2.09% 1.12% 



Fat (ether extract) .43% .34% 



Crude fiber 4.50% 7.15% 



Carbohydrates (nitrogen-free extract) 19.33% 24.55% 



100.00% 100.00% 



Comparison of yucca forage with native cacti forage as emergency 

 feed: The moisture varies from 63.5 per cent to 72 per cent in the 

 yucca samples, which is about 9 or 10 per cent less than in stems of 

 native cacti. Moisture can be dismissed as of no importance from a 

 standpoint of food value. The ash averages 2.45 per cent for the yucca 

 forage as compared with 4.35 per cent for cactus forage. The ash 

 content, therefore, is about one-half that of cactus stems. Ash is of no 

 food value, but the ash in cacti is abnormally high and probably acts as 

 a purgative. Yucca forage has no purgative effect on animals, even 

 when fed in quantity. 



The crude protein averages 1.60 per cent for the two samples of 

 yucca as compared with 1.42 per cent for native cactus forage. The 

 protein content of cactus forage is notably low and the analyses show 

 yucca forage to be about as deficient. Protein is an animal food and 

 good alfalfa hay often contains as high as 12 or 15 per cent. The fat, 

 or ether extract, averages .38 per cent for the yucca samples as against 

 .40 per cent for samples of native cacti. Dr. Vinson states that this is 

 composed only in part of true fats and that it may include some resins. 

 This amount of fat is low at best. The average of the yucca samples 

 gives 5.83 per cent crude fiber as compared with about 2.28 per cent for 

 native cactus forage. Even the younger samples of yucca contain 

 practically twice as much fiber as cacti. Fiber has almost no nutri- 

 tive value. The carbohydrates or nitrogen-free extract averages 

 21.94 per cent for the two samples of yucca as against 15 per cent in 

 cactus stems. As already noted the carbohydrates in yucca are rep- 

 resented largely by glucose or grape sugar, which is a valuable food. 

 Carbohydrates supply heat and energy for the body and produce fat. 

 With protein they are essential for good stock feed. 



As compared with cactus forage, yucca forage appears to contain 

 about the same amount of crude protein, less water and ash, and more 



