A New Fodder Plant.

Manawatu Herald, 29 March 1898, Page 3

A New Fodder Plant.

t Mention was made a short time ago of a new forage plant " Sacaline" having been successfully grown in Taranaki, and the Daily News, New Plymouth now states that some leaves of the plant, grown on Mr T. Rowe's Farm, at ' Bell Block, have been brought to office. The plant from which the leaves were taken is 50ft in circumference, 14ft high, and is loaded with fodder. It is said that cattle are very fond ol this plant, and, in fact, will not kave it for grass or other feed. Sacaline is looked uqon aa being particularly useful in a dairy farming district like Taranaki, as it will do away with the necessity of growing root crops, , &c, for winter u:;e. Concerning this plant, the Gardeners' Vhronich say 8: — "The cultural difficulties are not worth mentioning, and during winter no protection is needed. We may add that the Sacaline is a forage plant with an assured future. Chemical analysis has demonstrated its superiority in nutritive principles over other fodders. Compared with dried clover and lucerne, which contains only 16% of nitrogenous and 8% of fatty matter, the analysis is very favourable. In fact, it is shown that, without culture, care or manure, sacaline prospers in all soils Hud all climates, cold, damp, dry, and by the seaside, and that its yield is bo much more considerable as its growth is prolonged until the autumn. Its vegetative powers are the same in sand, on banks, slopes, or in flat marshes. Its Bucoess in the South, as well as in the North, is assured in spite of its northern origin. The Government report from South Australia declares that •• the cattle ' and 6heep relish it." How well it thrives in Taranaki may be gathered from the fact that in November last Mr Rowe cut a patch, and weighed the product, which worked out at a rate of 128 tons to the acre. The second cutting, made on December 18 tb, gave 80 tons to the acre, and the third cutting, on January 29th last, 85 tons.