The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-03-07
New Fodder Plant.

The prickly comfrey is just now at.
tracing considerable attention, and
from the accounts We get, i, seems like.
ly to prove valuable acquisition to
our BY no means crowded list of fod.
der plants. Its special value seems to
be for summer fodder, where feed is
scarce or soiling is prac,ised. It is a
native of ,ke Caucasus mountaina. and
thrives in the c,!dest climates; while
at the same time it is equally thrifty
in the South, being apparently we'll
adapted TO Withstand a hot sun or a
severe drought This ls not the com
GARDEN comfrey. (Smpl.y'un, cbsciu.
ME- but is the s. nspcrrinun,. belong
in. to the same genius Of plants and
somewhat like it in habit Of growth.
So that one can easily imaginc its lux
uriant growth under the high culture
which is required for good crops. II
is said to yield an enormous amount Of
green forage. somtimcs as high as 100
tons per acre. BY analysis its or. en-
leaves are found to contain 10 per
cent Of nutritious matter, which is q
very high proportion, cnly eqnallcd BY
such plants as the c,bbage aud beet.
Colonel George E Warning writes in
American Aericulturist that is highly
commended as forage plant in Eng
lang, and has been introduced with
success in this country. Not only does
it withstand extreme cold. but i seems
to thrive remarkably we'll under the
dry climate Of our southern states. In
Virginia plants set out in April and
growing near corn which had withered
with the drouth, gave at that time a
supply Of five to seven pounds Of fresh
green fodder to the plant. The leaves
may be cut or pulled. and the cropp
ing may be continued until heavy
frosts When = good top dressing oi
manure is given tn the ground. the
coufrey leaves are the FIRST product ot
tho soil in the early spring. Like al
heavy yielders, it is, Of course. heavy
feeder, and must he MANFRED very
abundantly. Indeed, It is peculiarly .
high farming plant. Il will pay much
better to grow one acre with fifty loads
Of manure. than ten acres with Eve
loads Of ranure TO the acre.
It is planted in hills three feet spsr'
each way. and may be planted ever
late in the autumn. Dig hole deer
enough TO- receive a large shovelful o.
manure. without filing It nearer thar
within two inches of the surface
After the heat has prssed from tn,
manure, place the set directly upon it
and cover it with about three inche.
Of earth. A soon as the weather Il
warm enough for any vegetable growth
the plant will start rapidly The ONLY
future treatment needed is to keep tn
ground free from weeds. (Which ma,
readily he done by cross cult,vatine,
snd giving il a heavy top .dressin,
emery autumn. the yield per acre Of tn
tirst season will be 20 tons Of gres,
leaues. of the second. so tous, of tn
third from 80 to over 100 tons.
Analysis would give product o
acturl nutritious matters amounting I
at least 10 COO pounds per acre. for
green crop Of SO tons, equal to tn
nutritious matter of IS tons Of the hes
hay. and would be fully equal to 5
tons Of corn fodder. Ifit is true tha
} this new conner has anything t'ke tn
advantageous qualities accorded to !
it will he most valuable acquisition
especially T." those who sta'l fec | thci
cattle during the sumner MONTE.