THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1910. HELIANTI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9996, 17 March 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1910. HELIANTI.

The introduction into this district, in fact into the Dominion, of a new and distinct farm plant will be a matter of considerable interest to farmers in particular, and to the public in general. The plant to which we refer is named Helianti, and, we understand, that crops of it will be grown in this district at an early date by Captain C. H. Moss, who has recently come from Home, and has the sole agency for helianti in this Dominion. A description of the plant is naturally interesting, but the best "description" that can be given is to grow the plant, and farmers will then see for themselves exactly what it is. Should it prove to be what is claimed for it then it can only be said thai helianti is an extremely valuable plant indeed, and that scientific research has once more proved a boon to humanity. It is said that the plant combines qualities of the highest importance to a dtgree never previously approached b,- any farm plant. Originally,

helianti waß obtained from Nortl America, "and after years of carefu cultivation," says an account of i> that we huve read, "by one of tht leading professors of horticulture ii France, has been so developed anc improved that to-day its cultivatior stands assured as one of the verj best fond plants of the future foi Agriculture. It has been subjectec to tests by both practical and scientific authorities, who all declare ir its favour, and express every beliei in its futuie. Helianti has an enormous growth above ground, obtaining a height of 6to 12 feet; it is oi branching habit, with large leaves, the flowers being of the sunflowei type, though on a smaller scale. The growth makes excellent green fodder, ensilage or hay, and exceeds both ir green and dry weight and animal food the best known forage plants, such as clover, sanfoin, etc. The percentage of dry weight in the green growth is exceeded by lucerne alone, the proportion being 24 pei cent, in helianti to 26 per cent, in lucerne, but helianti produces no less than three times the weight of growth per acre, and according to an alysis contains the extraordinary amount of over 7 per cent, of sugai in the green growth. This result ir itself will doubtless assure its culti vation on a large scale as a most val uable forage crop, but, astonishing as it may seem, only a part of it! good qualities are mentioned, for a the same time helianti grows a hug< crop of tubers of extreme value tht first year, in weight exceeding thai per acre of potatoees, several time; over, and, indeed, rivalling that oi the mangold. These tubers are of the greatest importance for culinary pur poses, as they have a large dietetic and hygienic value, and have a pleasant taste and are very digestible. Horses, cattle, pigs and sheep all ea' them greedily, and do well upoi them. Horses prefer them even t< mangold, when fresh raised. Cows do well, and give more milk and butter when fed upon helianti, eithei as tubers, hay or ensilage, and th< butter possesses the very best oi flavour, even better than that pro duced by feeding lucerne. Pigs fed upon the tubers make the best flav oured pork on the market. Poultry feed well and fatten quickly upon i mixture of half cooked tubers anc bran. The growth of 1906 withstooc the great drought in France, and ii Algiers and elsewhere, better thar any other farm plant. The leaves d< not fall in the driest of weather and no plant appears to withstand better the extremes of heat anc cold, of drought and wet. It mus' be borne in mind that both a heavj crop of forage and ot tubers canno be grown the same season. If a crop of tubers is desired, then no forage must be cut, but all ailowec to naatute. The dense growth will then die back, and the tubers resulting may be raised late in the autumn The "London Daily Mail," referrinf to the Bath Show, says:—"On th< stand of Mr Charles Marsters, oi Lynn, was sold that astonishing nev fodder plant called helianti, to whicl the attention of English farmers waE first drawn by an account in th< "Daily Mail" of the Paris Agricui tural Show. It is now being tested on a considerable scale in Norfolk. The plant, which grows to six feet, and can be cut twice in the year, is full of sugar, and the root is alßo an edible vegetable. It will bear as much as fifty tons to the acre of roots, and twice as much forage as lucerne. If it fulfils promises, it will be the most valuable green food for the Jairy cow ever introduced." After juch accounts it is almost unnecessary to add that the growing of the ;rop locally will be watched with the greatest interest.