METHODS OF FEEDING. 13 



SINGEING WITH A TORCH. 



The use of a gasoline torch for removing the spines of the prickly 

 pear (and it is applicable to other species of cacti) originated in Texas. 

 (PI. I, fig. 2.) This is a common practice in vogue upon the range, 

 and is to be recommended as economical in both the utility of the feed 

 and the labor of preparing it. The process consists in passing a hot- 

 blast flame over the surface of the plant, which can be very quickly 

 done at small expense. The spines themselves are dry and inflamma- 

 ble. In many species one-half or two-thirds of them will burn off by 

 touching a match to them at the lower part of the trunk. The ease 

 with which they are removed depends upon the condition of the atmos- 

 phere, the age of the joints, and the number of the spines. A large 

 number of spines is very often an advantage when singeing is to 

 be practiced, because the spines burn better when the} 7 are abun- 

 dant. The instrument used for this purpose is a modified plumber's 

 torch. Any other convenient torch which gives a good flame can be 

 employed, the efficiency depending upon the lightness of the machine 

 and the ease with which the innermost parts of the cactus plants can 

 be reached by the flame. 



In southern Texas two excellent torches, described elsewhere, are 

 commonly used in singeing the prickly pear. In Arizona one or two 

 ranchers consulted have used an ordinary kerosene torch with mod- 

 erate success in handling" the tree cacti of that region. With the use 

 of. these machines there is no labor involved in the feeding, except 

 that of removing the spines by the passage of the blast flame over the 

 surface of the joints. The cattle follow the operator closely, and 

 graze all the joints which have been singed. 



STEAMING. 



So far as known, Mr. J. M. John, of Hoehne, Colo., is the only 

 rancher who has practiced steaming cactus for cattle in this countiy, 

 Mr. John discovered by accident and without any knowledge of 

 Australian practices that the spines became innocuous when moistened 

 for some time. He happened to use the plants in the construction of 

 a dam, which soon washed out. Upon repairing the dam it was dis- 

 covered that the spines of those plants which had been kept wet were 

 perfect^ harmless. This suggested that hot water or steam would 

 accomplish the purpose in a much shorter time. Acting upon this 

 suggestion he fitted up a tank and boiler, which happened to be on 

 hand, for the purpose of steaming the cactus. The tank employed 

 was an open one holding two loads, or, approximately, 6,000 pounds 

 of cactus. In order to prevent the loss of heat as much as possible, 

 corn chop, which was to be fed with the cactus, was poured upon the 

 top of the loaded vat. This mixture was steamed for about ten hours, 



