CHOPPED SOAPWEED AS EMERGENCY FEED. 9 



THE PREPARATION OF SOAPWEED. 



CHOPPING. 



At least two- types of machines have been developed to convert 

 the stems and leaves into feed. One works on the principle of the 

 ordinary feed chopper and cuts or slices the stems ; the other works 

 on the principle of the ordinary " wood hog " and shreds or tears 

 the plant into particles small enough to be eaten readily by cattle. 



The chopper has a heavy drumlike wheel, from 24 to 30 inches in 

 diameter and from 12 to 14 inches wide, on the circumference of 

 which are several heavy knives arranged to work against a cutter 

 bar of heavy steel on the frame of the machine. The wheel makes 

 from 250 to 300 revolutions per minute. It is mounted on a frame 

 and is covered with a hood to prevent throwing off the cut particles 

 of feed. The soapweed plants, after being lifted to the machine, are 

 carried automatically over the cutter bar, and the knives chop the 

 stem into particles somewhat resembling thin slices of pineapple. 

 A 15 or 20 horsepower engine is required to operate successfully 

 the larger machines first put on the market. The plants are fibrous 

 and tough, so that power enough to maintain the cutting wheel at 

 high speed is essential. These, when in proper order and when op- 

 erated by experienced men, will chop from 25 to 30 tons of soap- 

 weed per day. 



Three men are required to operate the chopper at full capacity. 

 One man lifts the soapweed plants to the carrier of the machine, an- 

 other places them in contact with the carrier, and a third clears the 

 chopped feed away from the back of the machine. 



The shredding machine consists of a heavy sheet-iron box approxi- 

 mately 16 inches wide, 16 inches long, and 36 inches deep, having 

 at the bottom a small drum set with numerous tooth- edged knives. 

 The soapweed plant is placed on end in the boxlike arrangement 

 and with slight pressure from the hand of the feeder is forced to 

 come in contact with the drum set full of teeth. This drum is ro- 

 tated at a rate of 500 revolutions per minute, and the teeth coming 

 in contact with the soapweed plant tear or shred it into small par- 

 ticles. This machine may be operated by two or three men, and re- 

 quires an 8-horsepower engine. The capacity is much lower than 

 that of the chopping machine. 



Neither machine cuts the leaves of the soapweed very much, but 

 both tear them apart enough for cattle to eat them. 



MIXING SOAPWEED AND COTTONSEED MEAL. 



The best way to mix cottonseed meal with soapweed is to sprinkle 

 the meal over the chopped soapweed in successive layers as it is 

 loaded into wagons to be hauled to the feed lot. 

 81176°— 19— Bull. 745 2 



