The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1911-10-26
ANEW FORAGE PLANT
MARROW CABBAGE, OR
CHOU MOELLIER
Originated at Agricultural Station
in England. and Introduced in
this Country Two Years Ago.
First Grown in Whatcom Coun-
ty near the City Of LINDEN.

~ uCdI TIC lily VI AyuuCiAs
There was a unique exhibit at the
Whatcom County Fair, not mentioned
in the entry lists or awards, but
which is of interest to farmers and
dairymen, and which deserves ut
tention. Messrs. Langell and White
who moved from San Juan County
last winter to the J. X. Rinehart
place two miles north of town, ex-
hibited mammoth Marrow Cabbage
new variety of forage plant, as
yet but little known in this country.
So far as known, Langell and White
are the only growers in this vicinity
at the present time, but 1t is expect
ed that when the advantages of the
marrow cabbage over other varieties
Of fodder are known it will be largely
cultivated, especially by dairymen, as
it bids fair to rival the mangel us
food for cattle.
Marrow Cabbage, or Chou Moellier,
as it is technically named, is the
result of experimentation with Kohl
Rabi, Kale and Jersey Chou carried
on at an agricultural station in Eng
land, and introduced in this country
some two or three years ago when
the Experiment Station of Western
Washington, believing that the plant
was peculiarly adapted to the Puget
Sound country, procured some seeds
for experiment anu testing. 1t was
at the latter place that Langell and
White last spring obtained the seeds
from which they have grown about
five hundred excellent specimens of
the cabbage, trying 1t in different
kinds of soil, but getting the best re-
suits from seeds sown in sandy
loan.
There are two reasons why the
marrow cabbage is especially valuable
as fOdder-its great weight and its
ability to Withstand long periods Of
drought, when there Is general short
age of feed. The plants grow to q
height of four or five feet and are
from five to six inches in diameter,
the leaves with large succulent stalks.
varying up to three feet in length,
and from ten to twelve inches across
at the widest portion. A large plant
will weigh eighteen pounds. AS the
cabbage grows, the first large lower
leaves are gathered about once in
two weeks and cattle consume them
greedily, and experiments have shown
that the new plant is valuable but
ter producer, causing no Objectionable
odor or taste to milk or butter. The
leaves are also used as greens tor
poultry. There being no hard, woody
bark as in ordinary cabbage, there is
consequently no waste whatever in
the plant, stems, stalks and leaves all
possessing valuable food qualities, An
other point In favor OF marrow cab
bage is that it produces a heavier
yield of green food to the acre than
many other forage plants. Expert
ments made show that eighty 10
ninety tons to the acre may be grown
In some sections of the British Isles
the cabbages found to be perfectly
hardy, and 1t is expected that by
selecting the hardest plants and
seeding from them strain can be
developed that will practically with
stand the winters of western Wash
ingtOn. A fine specimen of the plant
from the seasons crop grown by
Langell and White, is on exhibition,
at the Tribune office.