The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-04-17

About year and half ago c. A.
Brown handed to the Commissioners
of Agriculture an agricultural journal
containing an account of wonderful
| forage plant which had been discov-
cred 10y the Russian explorer, Maxi
mowiez, in the island of Saghalin,
situated in the Sea of Okhotsh be-
tween Japan and Siberia. Mr.. Mars
den at once wrote to the principal
seed dealers in Australia and America,
only to find out that none OF the seed
was on the market, although the
plant was being grown for that pur-
pose.
The numerous properties of SAGA
line were so fully demonstrated that
the first seed offered for sale realized
enormous prices, being eagerly pur-
chased at the rate of $500 per pound,
and during last year $1,000 per pound
was paid for the seed. The price has
now fallen to $25 per pound, but even
at that price all available stock has
been exhausted. Many persons, in
Guiding the Bureau of Agriculture,
were disappointed at receiving letters
by the last mail stating that none of
the seed was procurable.
About six weeks since, the Bureau
of Agriculture received the first lot of
seed. The public was at once notified
through the daily papers, and the
seeds were quickly distributed to all
parts of the Islands. There is a small
supply still available for distribution.
p5' tho and nf the month the Com
mIsstoner of Agriculture expects to
seed and roots, which latter VIII be
planted on a parcel of government
land that has been well prepared for
its reception. The climate of the
Islands is especially adapted to the
production of this new vegetable
wonder.
Reports have come to hand from
parties who are experimenting with
the seeds received from the Bureau OF
Agriculture. The seeds are growing
well, and there seems to be hardly
doubt but that the plant will flourish
in this country. 1t is said that by
planting the roots much quicker re
suits are obtained than by seed. Be
fore the end of the year the Bureau Of
Agriculture hopes to be able to show
the capacity of Hawaiian soil and eli
mate to produce Sacaline.
The great value of this plant to Ha-
wall is in the possibility it offers for
forage and the fact that it will grow
on lantana lands. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that if planted among heavy
lantana it will crowd it out, but If the
land is once cleared of lantaDa and
Sacaline planted in it's place it will,
by the rapidity of its growth and the
power of taking possession of the soil,
prevent the lantana again obtaining
fOothOld. The immense tracks Of land
now containing the lantana pest could
be made to produce an abundance OF
succulent forage If systematic plant
ing of Sacaline is carried out
The young shoots and leaves OF Sa-
caline, prepared in various fashions,
furnish the table with an excellent
summer vegetable, equal to spinach,
chickory or lettuce, while by some
they are considered as rivaling aspar-
agus. In years OF abundance, these
shoots, if in excess of home require
ment, can be used for industrial pur-
poses. AS soon as the stem attains
height of four TO six feet, they can be
cut close to the ground and fed TO cat
tie. Ii the second growth is vigorous,
another cutting can be made. The
last cutting is done in late autumn,
before frost. The following years,
three or often four cuttings can be
made. Used in ensilage, like corn,
this is certain to prove valuable
nourishment for cattle in winter.