FORAGE CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1214, 24 August 1911, Page 8

FORAGE CROPS.

SOME STATE EXPEEIMEXTS.

r The serious depredations of insect and iimgoid.diseases almwt apnroacliin" devastation, have, says Mr. E. Clifton, in fire Journal of tha Department of Agriculture, seriously militated" against 'this successful cultivation of the turnip and of rape. As a possible" .supplement or alternative to those important crops, spmo trials have been niatle o" a variety of beet/ known as. "silve-r-bcet," "si'lverspinach," "Swiss chard." -The particular snb-variety made use of is catalogued as "Lucnlliis." There are two nnin divisions of beet, Beta cicln,, I], maritima (leaf beets), and Beta vulgaris, tho beet in cultivation for tin- root. 'The leaf beets, li. cicla and B. maritima are' cultivated for the leaves and midrib. . lioilcd, thsso sro esteemwl as a vegetable. The leaves resemble spinach. < and the midrib seakale. It was observed tint the plant, is of particularly vigorous-growth, and tint tilt IW.vc; were quickly replactil when the plant had been very completely domuled. It is also known that tho leavers of sugar-boot ami of mangolds ore in many countries part of the accepted rntioiui to stock. The plant possesses in. addition, to thoso advantages an apparently very marked 'freedom from rfi-

r.L-afc. Thnso considerations led to (he trial ■• of this plant; or two of the experiment farms, Jloiiiiiahaki and Kuakura. At the latter farm the abnormally dry season. .;o militated agiinst the jrro-wHi of tiio plants that the loiult of the trial there whs cf no value. Al ilimiiuihaki the silver-beet (Lueullus) throve excellently. . The .cultivation and treatment neve 'precisely similar to. that extended to excopt tlmt. the drills wm-c as v.'iilu as those for Thousand-headed kale. The wed was sown en October II), Veo(!iH3->rt.,.<;q!n)Ue l iic,(;'4,.. l ciji..jrpbTi\ar.v 1. Part of ilii' crop wus-.weighed, the yield found to ba at-tho 'rate of 22 tons per, acre. The stock shsop exhibited at first aversion to the plan I. It was consumed only after ottici plants, weeds, etc., had teen eaton out. So far the result at Jlouinaliii/U vras disappointing on tho final' test, that of itodius-vnlue. -This is but .one trial; "tlie-re "may have'been circumstances caiiain , ,' this that woro not recognised. Further tests will bo made this coming season. This plant possesses many characteristics that me too v.ei! appreciated to permit curly discouragement. The Icicdiiig-oIT was fairly close; the second crop was quickly matured. If was free from discaw, and when from Hie efforts of continuous dry wcutliei olhei plants exhibited distress tho silver-beet maintained a crovi-th of well-coloured vigorous folingp. If lnlcr it lw proved acceptabU and useful to stock, this should bo an important addition to the crops of the farm. At Waii'jauui the plant was sTOwn- under the name of "sea-kale beet." The crop was very large. The owner was well satisfied with the crop and with the. stcek fchsvt were fed on it". Another report from North Otago i.= to tho snino effect, Mr. Clifton hopes that more farmers will te?t this plant. It is certainly longer in inatiiriii!,' than rope, but it? di-:ca?o-re-,isting power and its vigour claim attention.