DR has 
been mostly killed by the winter. My best catch was on a grass sod. I found that 
a freeze or a drought catching the plants before the roots have penetrated the soil 
are equally disastrous. On some meadows of previous sowings I am now cutting a 
heavy crop of almost pure Lespedeza. The reverses of this year will not loosen the 
hold of the grass on my estimation in the least. é 
(Plate 98.) 
MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 
OPUNTIA. 
Opuntia Engelmanni (Nopal; Prickly Pear). 
One of the principal characteristics of the vegetation of arid districts 
is the prevalence of different species of Cactacew or cactus-like plants. 
These are exceedingly variable in form and size, and are divided into 
several genera. Of these the Opuntias are extremely common. There 
are two kinds of these—one with broad, flat joints, and one with cylin- 
drical or club-shaped joints. | 
Of the flat, broad-jointed kind there are many species. The Opuntia 
vulgaris is common in sandy ground in the Kastern Atlantic States. In 
western Texas and other parts of the arid regions reaching to Califor- 
nia there is a much larger kind, of the same general appearance, which 
is called Opuntia Hngelmanni. ‘This is a stout, coarse-looking plant, 
growing from 4 to 6 feet high, and much branched.~ The joints are, 
in large specimens, a foot long and 9 or 10 inches broad, with groups 
of stout spines from 4 to 14 inches long. They are apparently leaf- 
less, but in young specimens minute, fleshy leaves may be detected. 
Springing from the side of these joints at the proper season are hand- 
some flowers 2 or 3inches in diameter, which are succeeded by a round- 
ish fruit, nearly 2 inches long, filled with a purplish pulp, generally of 
an insipid taste, while imbedded in the pulp are numbers of small, hard 
seeds. The common name of this Opuntia among the Mexicans is ‘‘nopal,” 
and some of the species have fruit which is edible and highly esteemed. 
The use of the above species of prickly pear, or cactus, for forage in the 
dry regions of Texas and westward is a matter of considerable impor- 
tance. An extended account of its use is given in Bulletin 3, of this 
Division. The usual method of preparing the plant for feeding is to 
singe the prickles over a brisk blaze. To some extent, especially by 
Sheep, the plant is eaten in the natural state, but serious consequences 
frequently result in such cases. Its chief use is as a substitute for fod- 
der in times of scarcity, but when properly prepared and fed with hay 
and grain it forms a valuable article of food for cattle. 
J. A. Avent, Sr., Bexar County, southern Texas: 
I have been feeding prickly pear for thirty years. It is an excellent feed for cattle 
if fed with fodder or hay of any kind; when not too full of sap it may be fed alone. 
If cut in January it can be fed until March 20, but if left standing it isnot good feed 
after the 20th of February. There is nothing that cattle like better than prickly 
pear when accustomed to it. We feed it only in dry years when grass is scarce. We 
begin feeding about the Ist of November and continue until the 20th of February, 
