LUCKY FIND.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 9

LUCKY FIND.

A VALUABLE FODDER. AUSTRALIAN BENEFACTOR DEAD. THE LATE MR AMOS W- HOWARD. (From a Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 13. There lias just died in Blakiston, South Australia, an old man of 81, who, unknown to thousands of Australians, must rank as one of the greatest benefactors the country lias ever known. His name was Amos W. Howard, a country florist. Around his name the blessing of a hundred farmers must hover, for it was he who made known to the country the extraordinary virtues of Use subterranean clover. It was purely a chance discovery. No one will ever know how there came to be growing in a small paddock at Blakiston a plant or two which Howard recognised as subterranean clover, known till that time in Europe, Asia, and Africa, hut not in Australia. Having determined the character and value of his discovery, he wrote many articles on its significance, and it. may be said that his own propaganda killed his own chances of making a fortune. Others, convinced by his statements, went about the job of getting the seed and winnowing it and cleaning it for the market. More than £2 an acre was paid for the privilege of “sweeping” a clover paddock. Rights were acquired to sweep round haystacks in the district, a process which garnered the precious clover seed, in which a brisk trade was done. Some of the men made thousands a year out ol' it, for its fame spread rapidly. In any district where the rainfall exceeds 20 inches the clover grows apace. Its habit is for its seed pods to bury themselves in the ground, sometimes shallow, sometimes deep. It is therefore impossible for stock to eat out a clover paddock. Sheep placed on an apparently bare field will thrive on the clover pods they find. Subterranean clover has been a tremendous factor in rehabilitating the dairying industry of Victoria, for example. In many districts it lias done wonderfully well, and it has been responsible for "an increase in the value of some land from 30s an acre to - £l2 and £ls. Apart from its fodder value it has a great effect on suppressing noxious weeds, and in some districts it has even helped to keep down thistle. Subterranean clover, with topdressing added, lias actually doubled the carrying capacity of some land. In every centre dealers spring up whose work is to spread ils use still further. Yet almost unknown, and certainly not enriched, the man who gave the country this boon lias passed away. But he has left the world a great deal heller than he found it. Perhaps that was reward enough for such a man.