JOHN D. RITCHIE, Secretary.

Manawatu Herald, 24 August 1895, Page 3

JOHN D. RITCHIE, Secretary.

LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS, No. 18. „ .^ The thistlei illustrated here were all mentioned in the Second Annual Report. Two additional figures have been inserted, viz., the Yellow Star Thistle and the Milk Thistle. It is hopi d that the publication of these drawings will aid settlers to recognise the plants mentioned, and so guard against their dissemination.

ilkThrttle, Variegated Tnistle, Blessed Tl istle, Holy Thiitle, Maria Thistle, Our Indy's Thistle (S lyiui marianim). By T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., &c, London. Leaf and flower-head, from nature. Found in South Europe, North Africa, South-west Asa.

A large thistle, easily recognised j by the conspicuous shining green foliage, with milky markings ; the leave* are sometimes 2ft. long, with j^ped spinous margins. The flower item is from Bft. to 6ft. high, bear- 1 ing very many large flower-heads, ' each armed with long and 9 tout recurved wines. Colour of flowers, purplish SjfP^Slisb. A white specimen wa4«jgtfh§?ed near^Kaiwarra, WellingtonTiast year. A. verf undesirable plant in pasture lands ; it has strong roots, and, being of large size, smothers more useful vegetation, and absorbs a very large proportion of nutritive matter. It is not, however, without its usm. In the young state sheep eat and are fond of it. In Australia it b*i betn.obtrt&ted into ensilage, as the following extract from the Agri- \ cultural Gnttte of New South Wales fill show :— •« One of the most instructive exhibits at the late Wagga Wagga Show, from and eduoational point of view, was that shown by Mr William Devlin, of Ganmain Station. It was an excellent sample of ensilage, which had been made out of that widespread weed, variegated thistle (Silybum marianus, Linn.), together with some of tha coarse bush grasses, which havl been so abundant during the past Season. This ensilage is eagerly devoured by all classes of

; stock, and ha<? a feeding-value equal I to that made from ordina y meadow ' grass or oats and barley, fiat it has one special value, and (hat is the aracunfc of salt which is taken up by this particular thistle, amounting to as much as from four to five per cent, making the value of the | ensilage in muny places, for the salt ; alone, more than the actual cO3t of its preparation, which varies, according to the character of the machinery employed, from 8a to 8s < per ton. It will probably be found ; that sheep ied upon such food will ' need no additional supply of salt. Those who are troubled with this ' weed in large quantities should consider the advisability of mowing them down, and making them icto stack ensilage," ' The leaves may be eaten as a salad when young. The stalks also may be boiled and eaten, and are both *' palatable and nutritious." This thistle was formerly cultivated, and the author of "Flora Dietefcica" states " the young shoots in the spring, cut close to the root, with part of the stalk on, is one of the best boiling-salads that is eaten, and surpasses the finest cabbage." The roots also may be eaten before the flowers are developed, and the floral receptacle makes a good substitute for globe artiohoke. (To be continued.)