38 THE PKICKLY PEAR AS FOOD FOR STOCK. 



from dead or diseased joints. However, there may be very good pear 

 with no ti ace of the blue color which is recognized in certain forms. 



In some localities the older portions of the plants are gray, while in 

 others they are yellow. In the vicinity of Encinal the color is almost 

 universally gray, while around San Antonio it is always yellow: but 

 the latter is considered much superior to the former, which is recog- 

 nized as blue pear by everybody. 



From an economic point of view it matters little about the species 

 until the time comes to establish plantations, when the rancher must 

 know which ones are the best feed and which grow the best. Until 

 experimental investigations determine some of these points the state- 

 ment will suffice that any of the cacti which are large enough and 

 numerous enough to ife fed economically are probably good stock 

 feed. Sufficient information is at hand to show that the nat-jointed 

 forms may be fed indiscriminately, and references are made in this 

 publication to experiences in the successful use of several of the long- 

 jointed forms. It is known that during hard times stock will eat the 

 giant cactus greedily when it is chopped up so that they can get at it. 

 The question resolves itself, therefore, purely into one of securing 

 enough material. Any cactus growing large enough to be fed with 

 economy can be used as roughage, or as a succulent for milk produc- 

 tion. Some form- are much better adapted for these purposes than 

 others, no doubt: but we have little positive evidence upon this point 

 except that the blue pear of Texas is said to be of greater value than 

 any of the other forms of that region. 



ESTABLISHING PLANTATIONS OF PEAR. 



Only two or three ranchers have been met who have gone to the 

 trouble of attempting to grow pear by the establishment of new 

 plantations. The plan pursued by Mr. Alexander Sinclair lias been a 

 very simple one. The plants have been cut up into individual 

 joints, and these have been scattered at suitable intervals upon the 

 ground. The unequal evaporation upon the two sides soon causes the 

 joint to dish, and new joints spring from its edges, while roots grow 

 from the side in contact with the earth. If the growth is vigorous 

 and normal, three new joints will be produced the first year, three 

 or more the second, and so on. giving a sufficient crop to pay for 

 harvesting in. four or rive years from planting. 



Mr. Sinclair's plantings have been a success in a measure. The 

 areas are well set. but much of the pear is unhealthy, owing to the 

 effect of parasites of both insect and fungus nature. This form of 

 planting is the most simple and least expensive that can be devised. 

 Aluch experimentation will be necessary to determine the best method 

 of establishing plantations. 



