CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10554, 9 February 1912, Page 5

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

CONVERTED INTO ENSILAGE. (By Telegraph — Press Association.) ■ WELLIKGTGN, Last Night, , The Hon. T. Mackenzie,MlSlS&L' ' of h,ag long felt that ths Oaliforniftn thistle, fro mbeing a icause of-loss to.the farmer, might, under certain conditions, be turned.-'to profit. Last year he visited a dis-! itrict where the weed had really got beyond control, and in consequence he instructed one of the Depart- j iment's field instructors to proceed to Ithe district and conduct a demonstration for utilising the thistle in ensil"age. making. The Director of the Division, after inspecting, reported 'that the weed that season was rather tfar advanced for treatment. Instruc- ; tions were then given to have the matter dealt with early this year, which has now been done. , Mr Mackenzie received reports in connection therewith, and these show that some large stacks have been built, ore recently completed being •'r. f t by 2' ft, with a height of some [ l-'-i't, The stack is estimated to conI tain about tons of ensilage, and 'ts value for feed purposes is computed at 10s per ton. This particular stack consists cf alternate layers kit., thistle, preen- oats . ard green 'wheat, with a f.prinklins: of agricultu.i Val salt on every second layer of fodij'der, about scwt. being used. The j 'experience of farmers is that stock i'will eat thistle ensilage before anv ( other feed that is offered them, ft j'i-s Mr Mackenzie's desire to have I 'made as widely known as possible the J Vact tl jat tie strvieos cf an ox pert .'from the Department are available to instruct farmers in the'making of ensilage.