“PORA” OR MAORI CABBAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18653, 3 June 1932, Page 12

“PORA” OR MAORI CABBAGE

A NEW FATTENING FOOD. During Ihcr last two seasons a prominent Mataura (Southland-) farmer, Mr John Taylor, lias been inicresting himself in the cultivation of “pora” or Ma.m’i cabbage. Obtaining the seed originally from Dusky Sound. Mr Taylor has been successful in raising a crop which, although'not entirely free from club-root, will at least produce a great amount of stock food. Recently a portion of seed was sent to Massey College for experimental purposes with excellent results, so that it lias been decided by the staff there to institute research to endeavour to ascertain its value’as a stock fodder. Mr Deem, Director of the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department, paid a visit to Mataura to see Mr Taylor’s crop, and valuable data was obtained. In some quarters it has been suggested that Mr Taylor’s crop is a cross,-but• Mr Deem is firmly of the opinion .that having regard to the uniformity .of the leaves, he is certain it has all the appearances of tho original specimen. Should the research prove successful it is quite expected that pora will be grown in large quantities and a very valuable forage obtained. It may he stated, incidentally, that a friend of Mr Taylor’s, who also is very interested in its production, is already conducting an experiment to lest its fattening qualities. He has fenced off an equal area of pora and rape to he fed off by seven Jambs under a Government te.st. It will he extremely interesting to know the result obtained after a month’s feeding.