Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-06-07

The experimenters were aware that
cattle will not eat the cactus In It's
natural state because of these spiny
prickles, which are sure to lacerate
their mouths and injure the animals
In various other ways. Soon after the
experiments were undertaken in the
southwest, 1t was found that II the
plants were cut up and allowed to
soak In their own juice for twelve or
fourteen hours, the spiny prickers be
come harmless. After this treatment
the plants are greatly relished by the
stock, especially the dairy animals. II
has been demonstrated also that a ra.
ton of these soaked cacti combined
with little grain will keep dairy an
imal in good flesh and milk as readily
as the best corn ensilage.
Having found the good uses OF the
cactus plant for stock feeding when
the spines are made harmless, the sci.
entifc experts have been working to
obtain what is known as spineless
forms, or smooth types" Asked
about the chances of cultivating ana
reproducing a plant bereft Of natures
protecting splnes, DIR. Galloway, CHIEF
Of the bureau, said:
These smooth cach are occasionally
found among the wild plants, but do
not survive very long, from the fact
that animals readily find them, and
they are particularly liked by jack
rabbits. The fact that efforts have
been made to secure splneless forms
has probably not brought to the minds
Of some the difficulties that such types
would have In holding their own in a
region where they could not or would
not be well protected by man. In
other words, spineless cacu would
soon be exterminated by many types
of animals, as the spines are the rear
protective agencies"
This fact, therefore, will lead to the
development Of more tender species,
which will need protection just as gar
den vegetables do from predatory AMI
mails which feed upon them Rabbits
do great harm to crops In all parts OF
the country but this has resulted in
protection by fencing and systematic
drives" to keep down the number OF
rabbits and such other animals as
would oXtermInate the crops If artlfi-
clal protection were not given. The
danger to the plant in Its wild state
will not prevent its development along
those lines, and valuable new crop
Is expected This Is not the sum to-
tai Of the cactus plants many uses.
Another interesting feature is de
scrlbed by DR.. Galloway, as follows
"Cacti and some of the other south
western plants which grow In a region
Of meagre rainfall are often used by
natives and travellers when water
cannot be obtained. Many of these
southwestern plants have a special
provision for storing water in under
ground stems. These stems grow to
IN enormous size, sometimes as large
as barrel, and when fond may be
dug up, and will give considerable
quantities of water. These provisions
are all the result of long adaptations
or, in other words, a combat between
the plant itself and its natural sur,
roundlngs. The result has been the
development of these particular con.
triyances which enable the plant To
take care of itself in times of stress.
From the standpoint of the human
consumer, with the cactus cheese as a
new delicacy, aud Of the stock raiser
who will have new and cheap ration
for feeding his stock, the cactus OK.
perlments promise valuable results
along the lines indicated. Washington
Correspondence N. Y. Evening Post.