38 



of the eradicatiou oC Prickly-pear, many farmers 

 declared that the disadvantages were so great that 

 the plants should be eradicated in spite of the 

 few advantages presented by them (R.S.C., 1906, 

 p. 30, 51; K.JS.G., 1898, p. 5, &c.; R.S.C., 1906, p. 

 11; Wallace, 189G, p. 90; Grobelaar, 1891, p. 

 246). 



Vines on Prickly-peab. 



It was suggested by an anonymous correspon- 

 dent in the "Agricultural Journal of the Cape of 

 Good Hope," Vol. IV., 1891, p. 73, that the 

 stumps of Prickly-pear plants might be utilised 

 as stocks for vines, as had been done in certain 

 parts of the United States of America. The 

 attempt in Cape Colony was not a success; and 

 the Secretary for Agriculture (Mr. A. Fischer) 

 stated that, since vineyards could be established 

 with comparative ease, it was doubtful whether 

 the experiment \vas «-orth repeating. 



Pkickly-peae as a Geeen Manure. 



On some farms in the Zoutspanberg district, 

 Transvaal, Prickly-pear has, according to local 

 evidence, been employed as a green manure for 

 citrus trees. Its use is said to have been beneficial. 



Destruction by Utilisation in the 

 Industries. 

 Prickly-pear does not appear to have been 

 as yet utilised for the preparation of commercial 

 articles in South Africa. Mr. "William Frost, of 

 Graaff Keinet, has been experimenting for some 

 time past, and has recently patented a number 

 of articles prepared either wholly or in part from 

 the pest pear, 0. decumana. A large acreage of 

 land forming part of the town common of Graaff 

 Eeinet has been placed under the control of Mr. 

 Frost, who has undertaken to clear off and utilise 

 the dense pear infesting it, his profit to be made 

 out of the sale of the products which he expects 

 to prepare from the plants. At the time of the 

 Commission's visit the work had not been com- 

 menced. 



During the course of an interview, Mr. Frost 

 brought under the notice of the Commission a 

 number of small samples of his preparations 

 which he belie ^^ed could be manufactured on a 

 commercial scale. Amongst them were food 

 balls made from the stems and joints with or 

 without the fruit. The patented process by which 

 these are proposed to be made is thus described : 

 — In order to convert the Prickly-pear to a 

 fodder, the parts of the plant are sliced, dried, 

 and pulped ; then the juice is separated from the 

 fibrous matter and concentrated. This con- 

 centrated juice is added as required to the fibrous 

 material, and the mixture converted into dry 

 balls or cakes capable of being utilised as fodder 

 for cattle and ostriches. They may be fed entire 

 or broken up or else moistened with water, and 

 are said to be an alternative to lucerne as a diet 

 for ostriches, as they counteract the constipating 

 tendency of the latter*. 



It was stated that coffee made from the seeds 

 and certain other parts of the plants mixed 

 could be produced at a very low cost. Syrup or 

 molasses was obtained from the fruit, and from 

 this a crude sugar was manufactured, which sub- 

 stances it was proposed to utilise for the manu- 

 facture of sweets. 



A kind of meal, vinegar, acetic acid, soaps, 

 &c., were to be made wholly or in part from the 

 plant. Samples of a fertiliser were made from 

 Prickly-pear mixed with farm manure. 



The matter of commercial utilisation has not, 

 as yet, passed beyond the experimental stage. 



An early proposal to make soap by boiling 

 Prickly-pear "leaves" with fat was shown by 

 MacOwan, 1890, p. 61, to be of no practical value. 



Prickly-pear as Hedges. 



It has already been mentioned that the various 

 species are occasionally used as hedges; but this, 

 of course, does not involve its destruction. 



APPENDIX. 



DESTRUCTION OF PRICKLY-PEAR BY 

 MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL 



MEANS. 



The following compilation of available 

 literature, although not devoid of interest, will 

 suggest that Queensland has nothing to learn 

 from South African past procedure in its own 

 efforts to subjugate the plants under considera- 

 tion : — 



The spread of Prickly-pear in Cape Colony 

 became so serious that on four occasions (1890, 

 1891, 1898, 1906) Select Committees of the Cape 

 Parliament were appointed to inquire into the 

 question of eradicating the pest. 



The first report (R.S.C., 1890) referred to 

 the great depreciation of public and private 

 lands, the large annual loss of stock, the demoral- 

 ising influence of the fruit and the liquor made 

 from it on the natives, caused by the presence of 

 Prickly-pear. Amongst the recommendations 

 were the proclamation of certain jiistricts as 

 infected areas, each of these to be taken over by 

 a Commissioner, who should be given power by 

 an Act providing for complete extirpation of the 

 plant. These Commissioners should have power 

 to enforce obedience to the proposed Act. "In 

 such cases where the proprietors are not able 

 themselves to meet the expenses, the Commis- 

 sioners shall investigate and recommend such 'pro 

 rata assistance as they shall deem just. In those 

 cases where a proprietor cannot possibly clear 

 his land, such land to be expropriated, and the 

 fair value decided upon by arbitration to be 

 given to him for it. Then this land to be either 

 cleared at the expense of the Government anii 

 then sold; or sold with a special stipulation 

 that it shall be cleared immediately by the pur- 

 chaser. ' ' 



The report of the Select Committee ap- 

 pointed next year (R.S.C., 1891) again refers to 

 the alarming spread of the pest and to the econo- 

 mic losses caused by it. Owing to the lack of 

 information as to the identity or otherwise of 

 the Kaalblad and Doornblad, experiments to 

 decide the question were suggested. Until such 

 results were available, the Committee did not feel 

 justified in recommending the total eradication 

 of the former. It was also suggested that experi- 

 ments as to the efficacy of various sprays should 

 be carried out. The drafting of a Bill for the 

 eradication of the thorny Prickly-pear (Doorn- 

 blad) was urged. 



