THE FEILDING CHRONICLE ANDADVERTISER. SATURDAY, OCT. 38, 1879. GOEAS FOOD FOU CATTLE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 84, 18 October 1879, Page 3

THE FEILDING CHRONICLE ANDADVERTISER. SATURDAY, OCT. 38, 1879. GOE AS FOOD FOU CATTLE.

Thb Mark Latie Express, \n noticing a new " Gorse Masticator," for -which AlessVs. M'^en^ie and Son, of Conk, were awarded the silver medal at Kilburn,. draws attention to the fact that hundreds of cattle are fed on this article in* the Qork district. The inventors claim that gorse cairbe grown ou lands of ji tile ..value, to. profitable account, and that it has been proved arutritious 4Ud economical food for both horSes • and cattle, it being at once a substitute f<#r: hay ': and a.n excellent green, food m the winter ; while the only obstacle to its general use has been hitherto tlio want of an effective Tdiaeh.ine to reduce it to a proper state for consumption. Tht-y also give the following interesting extracts from 'tables; compiled hy PraEessor Voelcknerand Mr. Lav^es :— -':■"•■ 'Nan\e of I"lesli-f or tiling l<'at-forming . . food, properties. properties. Gtorse ... ... 321 .;, ' ... 9 38 , Cabbage ... .!. 1:63 ...... 506 Eolji-Kabi „. 275 ... ... 8;62 M>iogel ......' 'ls4 ... ... 8(iO Swedes ....... tai '.'■■;■ ... 593 Carrots ...... o'6o ;.. ...10-18 Cjmn\on turnips I*Bo ... ... 4*43 Clover hay ... 427 ... ... 9>14 Proua, this, table it will be seen that with'the exception of clover hay, gorse contains a larger per-centage of-flesh-fofiuing qualities than any bther food iv ordinary useV In fa.ct, evidence as to itS ( valise, m this respect is •atliand. A resident of Feildirig informs us that he nevej saw horses, both, draught ftxid carriage, m finer condition than those of the Messrs. M'^enzie, \phich are fed on it— but not exclusively. These gentlemen grow acres of it every year, like any other crop. The; gorae is cv( y^heii about twerityVihches high, when, it \» free from. wood and easily reducible, .by th.c :." Masticator," to a state for consumption. Gorse. grows, too, luxuriant lj m New iJealarid v as many know to their cost, and, it soems a pity riiat. g,uch valuable foo<l should groyp ojily to-be destroyed by 1 fire. It vfould be a grand thing. for the colony if that which •is now vo^ed a nuisance^could be turned Ijo proiiubl^ aocyuu^t.. '