LUTHER BURBANK 



of 1,200 acres covered very thickly with cactus or 

 prickly pears, with only a slight growth of Ber- 

 muda grass. In this paddock, he tells us, are 

 pastured all the year round 400 head of cattle 

 and about 700 hogs. 



For both cattle and hogs the cactus furnishes 

 the chief food. The hogs receive only a slight 

 ration of corn, fed to keep them tame, and for the 

 rest live exclusively on the young leaves and fruit 

 of the cactus. 



Both cattle and hogs thrive wonderfully. But 

 when the cattle are killed, it is found that the walls 

 of their first stomach are filled with myriads of 

 small spines. The manager adds that he has never 

 known an animal to die from the effects of these 

 spines. This is a half dwarf, partially spineless 

 variety, which is sometimes found in tropical 

 islands. Yet it is obvious that the spines cannot 

 add to the health of the creature, and it is hardly 

 to be doubted that the animals will appreciate the 

 spineless varieties when they havfe access to them. 



But the most remarkable part of the story 

 remains to be told. 



This is the fact that the cattle have water to 

 drink only during the rainy season, which usually 

 includes the months of December and January. 

 During these two months there is a certain amount 

 of grass and they have water to drink. 



[220] 



