CHOU MOELLIER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22627, 15 January 1937, Page 16

CHOU MOELLIER

KING OF FORAGE CROPS BV G.H.C. 11l very many districts root growing has become a gamble, with the cards stacked against the grower. With the prevalence of club root, mottled heart, blight, and other parasites, which affect turnips one hesitates to sow them, nor is it necessary to do so with such a substitute as chou moellior available. Choti moellior is considerably more resistant to all the above troubles, and is rapidly replacing both roots and rape on that account. Jn addition, its feed value is greater than that of roots, and it is not so heating as rape. It will grow in all seils and localities suited to turnips, and can be sown in autumn or spring. It is usually ready for feeding off in about three months frdin sowing, but will keep well, as the leaves do not start to change colour as soon as ripe as is the case with rape. Chou moellicr will grow as much as five feet high, so that it can be cut and carted out as easily as can roots, with the additional advantage that'll does not taint milk as they do, especially if it is allowed to wilt before being given to cows. Also it is one of the best drought resistors we have. This valuable plant will give several feedings—in fact, when sown with grass one has found individual plants -still growing in the third season. There are two varieties, green stem and purple stem. The former is the most popular, it being considered to give more feed. The latter is thought by some to Ije the best frost resister. but the writer has not noticed any difference in that respect, both withstanding frost well. A fairly fine, deep seed bed is required, a'nd the more cultivation it gets the better the crop. It can be sown on ridges, drilled, or broadcast. In the former case }lb. to Jib. seed is usual and the plants are thinned to ten or twelve inches apart —rather wider than roots. If drilled, lib. per acre tlm'mgh every hoe is advisable. Some growers sow through every other hoe, but this involves, hand hoeing and it is better to use every hoe and thus give the plants moi,! root space and help smother weeds.

Broadcasting is the best method when chou moellicr is sown with grass, lib. per iicrts being mixed with the grass seed. Chou moellior is just about the finest crop we have for sowing with grass; it, does not smother it. as is often the case with rape; as staled before, it will continue to provide feed for two seasons 1 or more if not grazed too hard.

Everything said about, chou moellicr applies also to its half-brother thousand head kale, and it is hard to say which Is the better crop, except that the former is more suited to dry lands. Both crops are excellent for she<>p, cattle, pigs and poultry, and a little given to horses is beneficial to them.

As in the ruse of roots, heavy manuring pays well. A good mixture is .'kwt. reverted superphosphato and lewt. blood iind bone per ;icre. Alternatively, I lie revcried superphosphate fan lie sown with the seed, and leut. sulphate of ammonia drilled aeross the rows when the plants are some four inches high. It' superphosphate alone is vised, not more than lewt. should he applied with the seed, otherwise injury to germination i-t likely to result, The balance can cither he broadcast on the surface after sowing, or incorporated u'illi Ilio soil a fortnight. beforehand. Sulphate of ammonia should 'not be put in contact with the seed for tlio same reason.