The record-union., 1895-03-06
FACTS FOR FARMERS TO CONSIDER.
Something About the New Forage
Plant, "SacaIine.
It is Attracting Wide Attention Among
Owners of Cattle-Its Ma
ture, Value, Etc.

This plant, Potygo,auna sachalinense, that
Is now receiving such sensational notices
as food for cattle, was brought before the
public in Germany during that dry, FAM
inc year of 1898. During that autumn
stock died by thousands from starvation,
others were kept alive by feeding them
tree leaves-anything that would sustain
life. Those who had sacaline planted to
protect against the washing of river
banks, or as ornamentals, found that
stock ate it and thrived upon it during
the starvation period-this was enough,
seedsmen obtained all the seeds, plants
and cuttings obtainable during the sea-
son of '94, and now in 1895 it is placed
before the public with most extrayagant
statements.
But few facts should be known about
it. 1t is not grass or clover. but it is a
bush. 1t fills the ground many feet in
depth with tough, fibrous roots. from the
size of needle to larger than a mans
arm.
A. Jaenicke, foreman on the Burpee
seed farm, Philadelphia, Penn, who
left similar position on German seed
farm at the close of the famine year '93,
says of 1t: Yes, plant P0LygOnatn1 SGch-
dtl1lenSe In Germany, but beware of 1t in
America, where you have your splendid
corn and corn fodder. 1 wish the Ger
mans could grow your corn; but the cli-
mate does not allow it; then they would
not ask for POtygOnIn1 Sachdti11enSe."
That old, reliable seed house, Filmorin
Andrieux IL Co., of Paris, France, wrote
about this plant last September:
In one word, this perennial could be of
great interest in q drought year when
other fodder plants prove scarce, but i'll
normal productive seasons we do not
think that it will continue to prevail as a
forage; stock, in The presence of clover
nay, lucerne (alfalfa), or similar and we'll
known forage plants should much prefer
these latter ones, and omit the leaves of
POLygOnltlG SuchGtinenSe."
send clipping from that reliable
farmers paper, The Practical Farmer:
THE NEW FORAGE PLANT.
"a correspondent, c. o. Persons, Lester,
Mimi, sends US an extract from the cata-
logue of a scotsman in New York refer
ring to the new and wonderful forage
plant SGcati1se.' in which, after eulogiz-
ing the plant most highly, it states that it
has the Endorsement of many high au-
thorltles, mentioning the Practical Far
nler among others. Mr.. Persons asks:
Are claims made on inclosed slip true,
Va - IL LII duSW W6T 10 lu6 ABOVE,
SO Tar as what refers to an Endorsement
by the Practical Farmer it has not been
endorsed by me in the horticultural col
umn, nor do l remember seeing it in
dorsed editorially or otherwise in the
Practical Farmer. SO far as concerns the
merit of the plant, it is too early yet to
otter any opinion based on trials in this
country. 1t has not yet had sufficient
trial. The plant has come here we'll re-
commend from Europe, but the Practical
Farmer Is studying the interests of its
readers; and with this in view only, my
advice would be to move slowly in the
purchase OF 1t, giving it a trial on a small
scale, where there seems call for such a
plant as this is. There are certainly, yarid
regions in the Southwest where it is i'm
possible to raise any kind of forage plant.
1t is claimed that this plant, ,Sacaii1le,
will flourish in such a place, though the
highest botanical works state that it lux
uriates in moist subsoil near The mar
gin of water. | have already advised cor
respondents who have written me con-
corning it that it would be wise to try a
few plants. When it has proved success
ful in the regions it is said to be so we'll
fitted for, the Practical Farmer will not
withhold watever praise 1t merits"
SACALINE AGAIN.
This plant is polygonum. There are
forty species of this family in California
The most common species is the knot
weed, common in most parts of our State,
If you would know how sacaliue looks
magnify a bunch of knotweed till the
leaves appear as large as catalpa leaves
and you have resem blance to the boasted
sacaline. Remember where it once gets
a foothold you can never eradicate il.
OF the genus polygonum, on page 10,
volume IL, Botany of California,
Whitney's Geological Survey" you will
find the following: "a genus of zoo
species, distributed over the globe, OF
little or no value, few very widely
naturalized as weed. The juice of some
species is very pungent, never acid roots
often astringent."
ARUNDINE.
These plants are true grasses, but both
leaves and stems are of enormous
growth, attaining a hight of between
thirty and forty feet in one year from
well-established roots in our long season
of growth, with our rich valley soil and
abundant Irrigation.
/ stated that l did not plant them for
feed; this has brought me several in
quiries. Well, what L did plant them
for was shade for poultry and wind
break or protection around my
orchard. / soon found that where nv
stock could get all they could eat OF
arundas no bloat ever occurred. l learned
later that an area set to arundas was
worth three times as large an area set TO
alfalfa for pasture. l later learned that
they were the best winter forage and
finally that they excelled for milk pro-
ductlon. But mixed ration is better
than any single plant. An excellent mix
ture is arundas and alfalfa for permanent
pasture, with few acres sowed yearly to
Minnesota amber sugar cane, allowing
all stock free range over the whole as
soon as the sugar cane has grown to the
hight of your boot tops-stock is liable to
pull it up or injure it by close grazing il
turned on sooner. w. A. SANDERS.