Chou Moellier and Thousand-Headed Kale

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 68, Issue 5, 15 May 1944, Page 347

Chou Moellier and Thousand-Headed Kale

Types fisid Seed Supplies ■ f

—-By-

J. H. CLARIDGE,

E, Department of Agriculture, Wellington,

and

R. A. CALDER,

Agronomy Division, Lincoln.

Two members of the kale species (Brassica oleracea) are utilised in New Zealand for stock feeding purposes. The onethousandheaded kaleproduces a relatively high proportion of palatable leaf to unpalatable stem, while the otherchou moellier— a higher proportion of stem which is markedly palatable to stock.

THE acreage devoted to these two crops, particularly the latter, has extended rapidly of recent years and at present amounts, to approximately 60,000 acres. Prior to the outbreak of war practically all the seed required for local sowings was imported from Great Britain, but since that time this country has become self-supporting in regard to the supply of both thousandheaded kale and chou moellier seeds. Selection of Types In line with its general crop policy, the Agronomy Division of the Plant Research Bureau commenced, about eight years ago; a study of the types of plants comprising members of the kale family. This study revealed a fairly wide divergence in type of plant in the lines of seed being imported to New Zealand, particularly in the case of chou moellier. It was realised that no improvement in this respect could be expected in locally produced seed unless type selection was undertaken, and accordingly a programme of work was carried out which resulted in the selection and building up of two types of chou moellier and one of thousandheaded kale. Seed of these types is now being multiplied by the Department of Agriculture and the following information and descriptions ; will give prospective users some idea of the relative performances of the types:— 1. Giant chou moellier: A tall growing plant with a smooth, well devel- • oped stem, but a rather low proportion of leaf to stem. About 20 per cent, of the plants in lines of imported seed

are of this type. The illustration shows Giant chou moellier 3 months from time of sowing. 2. Medium stemmed chou moellier: A plant of medium height with stem rougher and coarser than that of giant chou moellier, but with a higher proportion of leaf to stem. Imported seed is composed of . about 35 per cent, of this type. The illustration shows medium stemmed chou moellier 3 months from time of sowing. 3. Thousand - headed kale: This is typical of the true thousand-headed kale, branching freely and having a high proportion of leaf to stem. In addition to the above-mentioned types of chou moellier, one very similar to the medium type, but rather shorter in growth, is present in considerable quantity in commercial seed, while certain intermediate types are also present. These have all been discarded in favour of the two types described above.

TABLE I.—GREEN WEIGHT YIELDS (in lb. per plot). Ratio of Total Weight of Weight of Leaf Type. Weight. Leaf. Stem. to Stem. Giant chou moellier 35.0 lb. 13.6 lb. 21.4 lb. 39:61 Medium stemmed chou moellier 28.4 „ 13.3 „ 15.2 „ 47:53 Thousand-headed kale .... 25.5 „ 18.0 „ 7.5 „ 71:29

As soon as a sufficient quantity of seed of each of the above described types was available, a trial was undertaken at the Agronomy Division, Lincoln, in order to obtain specific data relating to relative crop yields, leaf to stem ratios and grazing preferences. The trial was sown in 1939, and consisted of eight plots (each 2 ft. 6 in. wide and 45 ft. long) of each type under observation. From February until May, 1940. two plots of each type were studied monthly. Small sub-plots from each plot were cut and weighed, and samples for leaf-stem analyses taken. Six ewes were then allowed to graze the remainder of the plots,

after which further weighings were made to determine the proportions eaten of each type. . ' , Trial Results The averaged results on the full series of plots are summarised in the tables I, 11, and 111. TABLE I: , 1. Giant chou moellier has given the heaviest yield, due to the high proportion of stem in its composition. Its weight of leaf is not significantly different from that of medium stemmed chou moellier, though distinctly lower than that of thousand-headed kale. 2. Thousand - headed kale, though slightly lower in total yield than medium stemmed chou moellier, gave easily the heaviest yield of leaf. 3. The ratio of leaf to stem was distinct for each type, giant chou moellier consisting of three-fifths stem, medium chou moellier being intermediate, and thousand-headed kale being almost three-fourths leaf. TABLE II: 1. In so far as leaf, is concerned, thousand-headed kale gave the greatest weight of material consumed, with little difference between the two types of chou moellier. In each case all the available leaf was eaten. 2. Striking differences are shown in the weight of stem consumed. This was easily the highest in the case of giant chou moellier, while in the case of thousand-headed kale very little stem was eaten. 3. There is little difference in the percentage of total weight consumed of each type, the actual amounts eaten varying according to the total yields obtained. - ■ TABLE HI: The figures in this table show the low proportion of marrow in the stem of thousand-headed kale, the low palatability of which is mainly due to the high proportion of extremely hard woody material contained therein. (See Fig. 1).

TABLE IL—PROPORTIONS OF THE VARIOUS TYPES EATEN BY SHEEP (Weights in lb. per plot.) Leaf. Stem. Total Plant. Actual Actual . Actual Weight Percentage Weight Percentage Weight Percentage v Type. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Consumed. Giant chou moellier . . 13.6 lb. 100 15.2 lb. 71 28.8 lb. 82 Medium stemmed chou , moellier ■ 13.3 „ .100 9.1 „ 61 22.4 „ 79 Thousand - headed kale 18.0 ~ 100 1.4 „ 18 19.4 „ 26

TABLE lII.—YIELD OF MARROW IN STEM OF DIFFERENT TYPES. Proportion Yield of of Marrow Marrow Type. in Stem; per Plot. Giant chou moellier •••• 53% 11.4 lb. Medium stemmed chou moellier . 52% 7.9 „ Thousand-headed kale: 37% 2.7 „

It should, of course, be realised that the results discussed apply only for the particular season and conditions under which the trial was conducted. They nevertheless form a useful guide as to the relative behaviour of these types of plants, and should prove of assistance to farmers in coming to a con-

elusion as to the type which might best suit their particular conditions. For convenience the relative merits of the three types as exhibited in the trial under discussion and confirmed by other observations are summarised as:— •.. . '

One point not recorded in the above tables, but observed in the trial, was that thousand-headed kale seemed more hardy and retained its leaf better than the chou moellier types, thus appearing to be more suitable for late winter or early spring feeding. While the aim in developing'' these selections has been to obtain as even a type as possible, complete uniformity has been out of the question and some variation from the typical may be expected in a percentage of plants. Nevertheless the types are easily recognised by the high proportion of plants in each type which conform to the description given. Certified Seed Supplies of seed of all types are being multiplied as rapidly as possible, and the Department of Agriculture has made arrangements with one commercial firm in the case of the two types of chou moellier, and with another firm in the case of thousand-headed kale, to undertake the production of seed on a commercial scale and arrange for its distribution through the usual seed trade . channels of New Zealand. All the activities of the firms in question relative to the growing and distribution of this seed come under the official supervision of the Department of Agriculture and the seed produced will be distributed under the description “Government Certified.” Subject to no unforeseen circumstances resulting in crop failure there will be available for distribution for sowing in the spring of - 1944 certified chou moellier seed of each of the types giant and medium stemmed.

Unfortunately, owing to crop failure, a similar position has not been reached in connection with the selected line of thousand-headed kale seed. As soon as possible, however, seed of this type will also be made available and in the meantime the matter of seed supplies is being met under an arrangement whereby the firm concerned is

multiplying, under departmental supervision, the best line of commercial seed available. This seed is distributed under the description “Government Approved,” the term “Government Certified” being reserved for seed of the selected strain when supplies become available for distribution in a year or so.

.Characteristic. Giant chou moellier. Medium stemmed chou moellier. Thousand-headed kale. Height Type of growth Total production ___ Tallest Most stemmy Heaviest Intermediate Intermediate Slightly better than thousand-headed Shortest Very leafy Not quite as good as medium stemmed chou moellier " Portion of stem con- Very little stem Portion of stem consumed by sheep Tallest Most stemmy Heaviest Good proportion of stem Intermediate Intermediate Slightly better than thousand-headed kale Fair proportion of stem Shortest Very leafy Not quite as good as medium stemmed chou moellier Very little stem