The Placer herald., 1858-11-27
Cultivation of Chufa or Earth Almond.

we have received communication from
a valued Eastern correspondent, upon the
merits and culture of this newly introduced
tuber; and though not intended for publica-
tion we take the liberty of appropriating SO
much thereof as we believe will interest
those who are desrous of experimenting
with this new acquisition to our best swine
feeding products. The almost universal ac-
acknowledgement of its excellent feeding and
fattening qualities, and general productive
ness in all soils adopted to potato culture
or indeed in soils so poor that a fair crop of
potatoes could not be expected has given to
the chufa celebrity never before obtained
ly any newly introduced vegetable in so
short time.
So wonderfully prolific is it upon soils
even Of medium quality, no one need hesi-
tate to attempt its cultivation who desires to
grow at the least possible expense, the lar
gest quantity of an excellent feed for swine
and poultry. Here are the remarks of our
correspondent:
Having cultivated the Earth Almond for
three seasons with view to the fattening
of hogs at a cheaper rate than upon corn,
the result of my experience is this believe
that many farmer who now owns land so
poor that he can neither raise corn or peas
equal to fair average crop Of the country,
if he would plant but an acre of chufa, he
would realize more Of truly fattening pro-
duct for his herd Of hogs, than he could pos
sibly obtain from two acres of any other
product at the same cost.
My second years crop on the same ground
hon Il hot Of bo tirct nd
the last seasons crop quite equal to both Of
the preceding, and this without any re-sow-
ING of seed or cultivation of the land beyond
what was given it by the noses of the hogs
in roofing into the tubers | am confident
also that land is actually enriched by their
growth and mode of harvesting if performed
by swine, and they kept upon the land night
and day; the decomposition of the tops and
the manure from the hogs more than making
good the loss to the SOIL by the mere con
sumption of the tubers. The fear with many
is, that in growing them upon an already fer
tile SOIL they may prove difficult of eradica
ton when once established. | have no fears
of this; find that to turn them in deep with
the plow, at a season of the year when the
bulk Of the tuhers have attained to half their
growth, will destroy the grea er part of them;
another shallow plowng or severe narrowing
two or three weeks alterward, will efectually
subAue the remainder.
l would plant them at first in drills, two
feet apart; this enables the cultivator to be
run between the drills ill the chufa gets
start, after which it will take care of ITSELF
would give the tubers distance Of five or
six inches in the drill; but if the soil be rich,
eight inches will answer, and plant at the
proper season for planting Indian corn; this
of course applies to our country of frosts and
SHOWS. In California as in the Southern
States, it doubtless might be planted at al
most any season and vegetate successfully"
''The taste Of the chufa is hardly inferior
to the best chestnut, which it much resem-
bles. Poultry are quite as fond of it as hogs,
but cannot as we'll do their own harvesting;
but turn the hogs upon the chuta patch and
most remarkable attachment of the hen to
the hogs nose is Immediately observable,
and being quick of foot, and keen in their
perception of the delicious, soon retire with
crops filled almost to surteit. AS a cheap
and nutritious food for swine and poultry, the
chufa has not its equal"
California Culturist.