A WONDER PLANT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1448, 24 May 1912, Page 8

A WONDER PLANT.

FEEDING VALUE OF LUCEBNE. Several experiments havo teen conducted to test the value of,lucerne as a food for pigs, says Prof. D. H. Otis, of the University of Wisconsin, and the results show that when properly combined with' grain, lucerne will produce from 200 to 2681b. of pork a ton. Lucerne has also produced excellent results in feeding steers, brood mares, growing colts, and even work horses. Poultrymen are advocating ■ luccrne for the production oi e ff[T S. A review of the results of feeding lucerne with the various classes of animals shows it to be far the best'knoWn roughage for farm animals. Bed clover has been rightly hcl<l injugh esteem, but, according to its composition and the results obtained in feeding farm animals, it has been found less valuable than lucerne. When we think of lucerne as p, perennial plant, that it produces a larger yield than any other hay crop, that it extends" its roots into tho louver soil find brings up plant food from the sub.soil, that its roots are covered with.tubercles; the home of micro-organisms that have the powqr to lay hold of the nitrogen' in our atmosphere and - convert- it into plant, food, thus' leaving the soil richer than it was before the income was grown, we cannot help but think' that lucerne is a wonder plant. Sugar From Lucerne. A company has been formed in the United States called the Rational Alfalfa Products Company, to place the maaufaetured products of alfalfa, on the market. Among the products will be a syrup which, analysed, has given 1.30 per cent, fat, 42.61 per cent, fibres, 8.6S per cent, protein, and 33.15 per cont. sugar. Thus alfalfa syrup contains as much sugar as cane or maple syrup, and it is also of a very fine flavour. For manufacturing uses the lucerne is cut when young every twelve days, so that it is possible to get about twelve cuttings during the season. This young alfalfa is cured by artificial heat, and is made into syrup at a cost of about -Is. per gallon. The value of alfalfa to the grower were he to sell it. for the purpose of syrup-making may be gained from an estimate of production and cost. According to the chemists, alfalfa contains from 33 to 12 per cent, of sugAr. From these figures if can be seen that from a ton of lucerne the minimum of sugar would be GGfilb., and the maximum 8401b. Referring to tlie commercial value of the discovery, an American paper says that with sugar at a price.of 2d. per lb. ■ the alfalfa v/puld bring from £o to Ab per ton. The cast of producing the snsKir fias been figured at Jfts. for the 6681b.. and Jj2 10s. for tho 8401b., so alfalfa 1 would net about J23 for-tho ton containing 33 per cent. su?ar, and XI 10s. for tho ton containing 12 per cent. Tho price of 2d. given above is considered low. and as twelve cuttings can bo made in a season, and possibly more in California, it can be seen that the' time may come when alfalfa inuv lw too valuable to n=e simply as a fodder for dairy cattle and pigs. No matter what the state of the market mav be,, cheese made bv tho use of "Victor'' Vats will always.command the highest ruling price, awl secure best returns in the way of big profits for the fnotory shareholders, "vfctor" \ats -are made' with sloping bottoms, which drain away every drop of whey and leave the curd high and dry. Write tojdav for particulars. Albert J. Parton, Carterton.* Chick-rearing Is not only profitable, but a pleasure, when yon feed "A and P Chick-Raiser. It is complete and pro-perly-blended food for Young Clucks, OUtainablo from all storekeepers.—Advt. Lost year -143,531 alien passengers landed in the United Kingdom. In China the -inhabitants are counted every year in a curious manner. The 'oldest master of every ten houses lias to . count tho families, ,amd make a list, which is sent to the Imperial tax-house. Woods' Great. Peppermint Cure, Is, 6d. For Chronic Chest Comfilaint3,