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Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2420, 14 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

Howevkr much actors may quarrel, they generally have to ' make up' before they come upon the stage. IDo you realise—have you reflected over it)—Angeliue ? ' whispered Clarence to his betrothed, ' Only two weeks more and we shall be one! But remember, darling, I am to be that one:' Scotch Thistles as Ensilage,— A Melbourne contemporary says:—Scotch thistles were at 0116 time considered so great a nuisance that legislation became necessary in order to suppress the plant. Recent discoveries, however, lead to the belief that the despised Scotoh thistle will yet bo looked upon as one of our most valuable fodder plants. It has been found that Sootoh thistles can be converted into really good ensilage. A proof of this came under our notice on Tuesday. Mr, T. E. Lempriere, of Landaff Glen, Poowong, had about two acres of his overrun with Scotoh thistles, and last January he had the whole of the thistles cut down with with the view of converting them into ensilage. Reading in the Weekly Times of the system of stack ensilage adopted in England, Mr. Lempriere do termined to make an experiment in stack ensilage with his two acres of thistles, A bottom 14ft. by 18ft. was formed with saplings, and the thistles built on the top. The stack when finished was 14 ft. high it was then covered loosely with bracken ferns and spars, 011 top of which was then heaped up a large quantity of earth. The stack rapidly subsided, anil ivhou oponed 011 Tuesday was not more 4 feot high The ensilage provod of excellent quality, being of a good colour aud possessing a nice aromatic smell It is eaten with avidity by the cattle, the milking cows being very fond of it, The ensilage coming out of the stack quite warm, its value as fodder for milking cattle these cold nights can readily be understood. Scotch thistles have always been regarded as a great nuisance in Gippsland, where, owing to the excessive moisture, they flourish with luxuriance; but, after the use Mr Lempriere has shown his neighbours these plants can be put to, we imagine that the presence of thistles will in future be more | welcomed than otherwise by the dairy farmers ia and elsewhere, 1