1 Ave., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 71 
We should endeavour to go through life with our eyes open, and not to allow self- 
opinion or bias—modified forms, often, of bigotry or intolerance—to unduly influence 
us. Were it not for this, my attitude towards the plant under notice would be that of 
direct and uncompromising antagonism ; but, then, how often does time show that the 
folly of to-day is the wisdom of to-morrow? And who knows but we may yet come to 
consider it a good thing rather than an evil—say, as a sheep in wolf’s clothing? I 
think it a pity, however, to allow such a pany to overrun the land and elbow out the 
natural pasturage. Moreover, good land may be made to produce much better and 
more useful fodder. Of course it is claimed, on its behalf, that it is only a dernier 
ressort—a last resource, a stand-by in time of scarcity—the careless or improvident 
man’s resource, some may say—and so, perhaps, in the interest of the small cow-keeper 
about town, we may tolerate its growth on by-roads and waste lands. The trouble 
incidental to its preparation will militate against its use generally, and the man who 
has an ample supply of hay or other fodder on hand is not likely to trouble with it. 
I am well aware that it is little use to tell the man who has not this supply that he 
ought to have it; also that it is far easier to write about what should be done than to 
doit. Still, Ido think that these bad seasons certainly show the necessity for the 
dairy farmer of limited acres making better provision, in the way of hay, silage, green 
fodder, &c., for the welfare of the stock from which he expects to make a living. 
Last spring was a very favourable one for the growth of fodder crops, and only a few 
days ago | heard of a small farmer who then grew a good deal and made hay “ till he 
was sick of it.” The result was that, about the end of April, he had still something 
like 40 tons of good hay on hand, while his cream returns for the previous month 
amounted to £24. 
A former rector of the Anglican Church here,* who, I believe, had had some 
experience in Mexico, was wont to say, regarding prickly pear,‘ You don’t know what 
a valuable thing you have in it, or you would not want to have it exterminated.” I 
have read of the shepherds, probably in that country, taking their flocks to the cactus- 
rounds and slashing the plants (there called “ nopal’) with long sword-like knives. 
he sheep followed them and ate greedily the lopped-off portions,t though they did 
not seem able to tackle the plant as it stood. In India much use is said to be made 
of the prickly pear for fodder, and its growth has been advocated as a factor in the 
reclaiming of poor waste lands. It is even said to be used sometimes for human food, 
and, indeed, in our own State I have heard of the tender shoots being eaten in the bush, 
but rather by way of an anti-scorbutic than as a table delicacy. I tried some once, 
prepared to resemble stewed fruit, but, like the Yankee, [ don't “hanker after it,” nor 
yet the fruit itself, though some people make preserves with it. 
' Not long ago I was told that in places the banks of the Moonie River are 
covered with a dense growth of prickly pear, through which narrow paths to the 
water are kept open by the cattle, and that frequently when a beast is killed for beef 
the tit-bit of the carcass—the tongue—has to be thrown away, so full is it of the little 
barbed prickles of the pear. Now, when the stuff is used for cow feed here, the 
preparation of it has for its sole object the destroying or rendering harmless of its 
many spines and prickles. Where practicable, a goed plan is said to be to scorch 
these off by holding the pieces of the plant ona long fork over a clear wood fire, 
but the more useful practice seems to be to boil the stuff well—say, for three or four 
hours—such cooking, it is supposed, softening the otherwise hurtful parts and 
rendering them harmiess. A warning has been given through the Press against 
feeding the stuff hot, in which condition it is said to be apt to cause stomach and 
bowel derangements. 
Only last week, while passing along one of the main roads leading out of Ipswich, 
I had ample demonstration of the fact that a great many people are now feeding 
prickly pear. It was being taken away by dray, spring-cart, wheelbarrow, child’s 
cart, And wash-tub, by men, women, and children, and the cooking utensils vary from 
the half ship-tank or 200-gallon pot down to the modest kerosene tin. Some are 
reputed to boil it by the half-ton, and fork out the pieces, laying them on what is by 
courtesy called the grass, and allowing the stock to help themselves. In such cases 
a supplementary ration of hay is or ought to be given. 'Vhe owner of a cow or two will 
probably fill a kerosene tin with finely-chopped pieces (18 or 20 Ib.), add water and 
always a little salt, set the vessel over an open fire or on the stove for a few hours, 
then pour off the water for use with next batch, mix the cooked stuff with a little 
chaff and bran, let it cool, and feed at milking time. As it is of a somewhat laxative 
nature, it is advisable to feed sparingly at first, but after a few days a cow will take 
from 20 Ib. to 30 lb. a day without any apparent ill effects. 
* Rev. Herbert Heath. 
‘+ After the peons had burnt off the prickles with mesquit bush.—Ed. Q..4.J. 
