HELIANTI (A RAY OF SUNSIHNE)

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 16

HELIANTI (A RAY OF SUNSIHNE)

THE NEW FORAGE AND ROOT PLANT.

This new forage and root plant has not been produced in the south yet, but is growing successfully at Earnscleugh and the Mackenzie Country in the revegetating experiments of the Department of Agriculture. Me have been favoured by Mr A. Macphcrson, the field instructor, with the following particulars in reference to thin plant:

Helianti cannot be grown from seed, but only, from tubers. It will do on any soil,, but the best crops are raised on good mellow loam. Profitable yields are secured on stiff clay lands, light, sandy, or gravelly soils. The time and quantity to plant is the same as potatoes, but they can be planted as other tubers from April to November—2cwt to 3cwt per acre. Three tubers are planted to the yard, distance between each row one yard, the same depth aqd in the same manner as potatoes. If planted late in spring the tubers must be soaked in water for two hours before planting. When the plant is high enough to see the rows plainly hoe the land about 2in deep, and sow suitable artificial manure at the rate of lOcwt per acre. As a special fertiliser the following is recommended ns likly to give the best results: Phosphate of lime (soluble in water), 26 per cent. ; potash (K 20), 5 per cent.; sulphate of lime, 10 per cent. Leave the whole growth to die back in the autumn, after which the tubers can b© lifted and the largest given to cattle or used for human food, the small ones to be used for planting another season There will be sufficient tubers left in the ground to produce a crop the following year. From the tubers left in the soil a dense and voryl luxurious growth will appear, covering the whole of the ground.

For hay or ensilag© it is cut in January or February at about 18in from the ground, and again in March level with the ground. .The tubers, after these crops, do not require to be lifted, but can remain down three or four years; but lOcwt of manure must be applied each year. When tubers are used for cattle or human food plant and manure the same as for hay. Lift in April; and put the large tubers in a heap and reserve the small ones for planting another season. Cover slightly with straw. Helianti belongs to the artichoke family, but is a more robust grower than the variety generally used for culinary and fodder purposes, and, unlike those of the Jerusalem artichoke, the tubers are very elongated.

The following claims are made for it by the introducer and grower, Charles W. Marsters, seedsman, King’s Lynn, England ;

“ This new and distinct plant, combining 1 qualities of the highest importance to a degree never previously approached by any farm plant, was originally obtained frpm North America, and after years of careful cultivation by one of the leading professors of horticulture in France, has been so developed and improved that today its cultivation, stands assured as one of the very best food plants of the future for agriculture.. It has been subjected to tests by both practical and scientific authorities, who all declare in its favour*, and express every belief in its future. “ Helianti has an enormous growth above ground, attaining a height of 6ft to 12ft. It is of a branching habit, with large leaves, the flowers being of the sunflower type, though on a smaller scale.

“ The growth makes excellent greexlfodder, ensilage, or hay, and exceeds both in green and dry weight as animal food the best-known plants, such as clover, sanfoin, etc The percentage of dry weight in the green growth is exceeded by lucerne alone, the proportion being 24 per cent, in helianti to 26 per cent, in lucerne; but helianti produces no less than three times the weight of growth per acre, and according to analysis contains the extraordinary amount of over 7 per cent, of sugar in the green growth. “ This result in itself will doubtless assure ate cultivation on a largo scale as a most valuable forage crop; but, astonishing aa it may seem, only a part of its good qualities are mentioned for at the same tikne hcslanti grows a huge crop of tubers of extreme value the first year, in weight exceeding that per acre of potatoes several times over, and indeed, rivalling that of the mangold. ‘ These tubers are of the greatest importance for culinary purposes, as they have a large dietetic and hygienic value, and have a pleasant taste, and are very digestible. Horses, cattle, pigs, and sheop all eat them raw greedily, and do well upon them. Horses prefer them even to mangold when freshly raised. Cows do well, and givo more milk and butter when fed upon,helianti, either as tubers, hay, or ensilage, and the butter possesses thg very best of flavour, even better than that produced by feeding lucerne. Pig.s fed uponl the tubers make the best-flavoured pork on the market. Poultry feed well and fatten quickly upon a mixture of half-cookcd tubers and bran.

“ The growth of 1906 withstood the great drought, in France and in Algiers and elsewhere better than any other farm plant. The leaves do not fall in the driest of weather, and no plant appears to withstand bettor the extremes of heat and cold, of drought and wet.

“ Tho tubers have been exposed for two months to a temperature of 13dcg cent, below zero without losing their vitality, and they may bo regarded as safe down to 19deg tielow zero, but not lower. “It must be borne in mind that both a heavy crop of forage and of tubers cannot be grown the same season. If a crop of tubers is desired, then no forage must be cut, but all allowed to mature. The dense growth will then die back, and tho tubers resulting may bo raised late in the autumn.”

The plant is very persistent in growth, and if raised in suitable soil is difficult to eradicate. Enough tubers, as a rule, are left in tho soil each year to continue the

errop; hence it is wise to set apart a permanent paddock for it, or the odd corners of a farm, or waste places of little value for other crops. It requires little attention when once established. The crop matures in about five months. When the crop flowers and the tops droop and die about April or May, it is ready for harvesting. The average is seven to nine tons per acre For feeding pigs it is best to turn them into the crop to root cut the tubers. If it is desired to continue the crop, the pigs should bo removed before all the tubers arc eaten. The tuber in the raw state is very nutritious, especially for pregnant sows, and - sews reduced in weight and condition after suckling and weaning litters. One acre will support 20 sows from four to six months. Young pigs evidence considerable growth on being fed with them for a short period. The outcome of a number of tests made

at Hawksbury College and Experiment Farm, New South Wales, goes to show that, for fattening purposes, these tube re must be given with grain, and have a similar rfesult to feeding with ordinary potatoes. Three hundred and twenty-five pound of wheat fed with 8201 b of helianti gnv3 lUOlb increase.