Untitled

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 15

A few years ago the general idea of blue lupins was that they were useful only as a green manure. To feed them to sheep was regarded as practically out of the question, on account of their “unpalatability.” Howeverchanges come quickly, says The Press, Christchurch. In one of the bestfarmed districts in Canterbury—round about Prebbleton —blue lupins are grown extensively with the main object of giving body to the soil to enable the land to grow regular crops of wheat. But their use extends far beyond this today. Last week the writer saw a big mob of ewes and newly- _ dropped lambs on a well-grown field in]-, the Prebbleton district, and several! • farmers are now feeding their ewes and; lambs on the plant. It took a little;time to get the ewes used to the feed, but, as in the case of ensilage, only al little time. Lucerne had to pass! through a similar stage of scepticism as' far as this question of palatability was. concerned, until it was demonstrated* that any distaste stock had for it was£ due to the crop having become woody! and stalky as a result of belated cut-6 ting. f.