The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-03-07

u
Comfrey, is 8 native of the Caucasus, and
has been for many years used for forage by
the Russian and Caucasian herdsmen, who,
when their cattle have exhausted the grass on
the plains, resort TO the mountains, where, at
an altitude of from 1900 to 6 600 feet, they
fnd an unfsiling supply of this valuable her.
bage. ss sa'4
This plant has been lately brought promi-
neutly before the farmers of England, and
from thence has been introduced into France,
the East Indies, Australia, and South Amer
ice.
Mr.. Barral, Perpetual Secretary OF the
Central Society of Agriculture in France,
gives his testimony in favor of Prickly Com
frey, especially with view to its conservs.
ton for winter use.
The Agricultural Society Of the Arrondis-
sement of Iopzac, in France, have awarded
their first and most Important prize to Mr..
Crosnier for the introduction of Prickly Com
frey. sa sm.t.aap b1s isirp s3 III.
1t grows most luxurisntly in Ceylon, New
Zealand, and India.
The Italian farmers, who send large guam
titles of butter to England, express their en-
dissatisfaction with Symphytum asperrimuna,
as it improves the quantity of the milk and
the flavor of the butter.
Mr. Rawlings, of Chalk Hill Farm, Kings
bury North Wales, says September, 1875 (:
This year have had six cuttings from the
plant. 1t is most important adjunct on o
farm, and, in my opinion, requires to be
more extensively known"
Professor James Buckmap, F. L s., F.
G s., Sc, &c, late Professor Of Geology and
Botany in the Royal Agricultural College,
England, says: "From our own practical
experience, we conclude that we have in the
COmfrey plant capable of coDfsrring great
benefits upon the farmer"
Mr.. Henry Doubleday. of Coggsball, E5-
sex, England, says: "The advantages of
Symphytum asperrimum are brieAy-its very
quick growth, and easy cultivation, and i,s
heavy yield of fodder, the reliance that may
safely be put on the crop, as it ie nearly in
dependent of weather, and will still yield
fresh green leaves through the longest and
dryest summers. 1t Wristbands both heat
and cold, growing in the hottest climates,
and in as high latitude as ST. Petersburg
Its introduction into general cultivation
ought to be encouraged by every one who
knows, from experience, the difficulty of pro-
viding stock with green fodder, in early
spring or through summer, when the
drougbts have reduced the number of green
feed giving plants to one, viz: Symphytum
dsperrimum." 80
| have imported it into this State, and,
after years experience Of it, am convinced
of it's exceeding value. All descriptions of
stock: horses, COWS, sheep, pigs, and even
poultry, eat it readily, either green or dried,
and thrive better upon itthan any other form
of green food. 1t sometimes happens that
the first time an animal is offered Comfrey
it does not take the new food as readily as
that it has been always fed upon, but if per-
severed with for few days, Comfrey never
fails to become the favorite food of any ami.
NAL.
1t is exceedingly useful 10 bringing horses
into condition, and undoubtedly increases the
yield Of mich COWS enormously. The plant
may be grown on any soil except chalk, and
appears to flourish most luxuriaB,ly on clay.
ey loan. Once thoroughly established, it
will last for twenty-five years or longer, and
requires no cultivation beyond manuriDg and
an occasional ploughing between the rows of
plants.
It's propagated by cuttings from the crown
and roots, not by seeds, as they are generally
infertile; and the plants grow more vigorous
ly if the flower stems are cut when they first
appear.
The leaves may be cut with sickle or
any kind of cutting knife, or pulled by hand,
six times year, and may be fed green, or
may be partially dried and stacked, with
little salt between the layers, and they will
then keep well through the winter.
As regards its power of resisting heat and
drought, found that, during the past uuusu-
ally hot summer, when there was no rain for
twelve weeks, and the corn fodder was utter
ly ruined, the Prickly Comfrey continued
green and afforded excellent feed for stock.
| also fed it green up to December 10, when
it vas cut down by twenty six degrees of
frost. For more than month before, there
had been constant severe frosts which had
not affected the plants at all. The past win
ter has been more severe than any we have
bad for many years, but the Comfrey has
not suffered from the intense and long con-
tinued cold. The plants have already begun
to push their green leaves through the soil,
and some which were purposely left during
the winter unprotected by manure are in
thriving condition.
Francis Robinson, of Aiken, S c., says,
February 18Th: Il set out the cuttings last
Friday, and today Thursday after cold
rain, the young leaves are making their ap-
oearance through the manure on the surface.
Suca rapid vegetation is truly marvellous
think they will succeed well here"
There have been two articles in that most
valuable and trustworthy periodical, the
american Agriculturalist, in which the very
bile editors decide in favor of what they con.
ider to be the excellent properties of Priekly
Jomfrey. G. E. AsHBURNER.
HenricO county, IA. !