AND ITS USE AS A FODDER PLANT. 265 



more generally known and more extensively cultivated than at 

 present. If a commencement was made and a proper variety 

 selected, there is no doubt but its cultivation would j^raduallv 

 extend. 



Comfrey is propagated by cuttings of the root, or crowns, like 

 liorse-radish sets, and may be planted at any time except during 

 hard frost, or when the land is otherwise not in working con- 

 dition, it being one of the most hardy plants cultivated ; but the 

 spring is undoubtedly the best time for planting. If planted 

 before the month of May, a heavy crop may be taken the same 

 summer. It will grow well on any soil except chalk. The 

 distance at which the sets should be planted depends upon the 

 depth and richness of the soil. In a well-trenched rich soil 

 lines three feet apart, and sets two feet from each other, will be 

 a proper distance ; but on light or poor land they may with 

 advantage be set much closer. The ground should be prepared 

 in the ordinary way for any crop, by digging and manuring. 

 When properly levelled, a line strained across the ground, and 

 holes dibbled two or three inches deep, about two feet apart, and 

 the sets placed into them, and covered up one inch underground, 

 like planting potatoes, is the proper and simplest way of plant- 

 ing. Once planted, it will remain for any number of years, and 

 only requires keeping clean and heavily manuring to produce 

 eighty to one hundred tons of fodder per acre per annum. The 

 simplest way of manuring is to burn the last crop of the season, 

 the ashes of which will form an excellent manure, and young 

 shoots will spring out early the following sj)ring. 



Comfrev should be cut when it is about hali-t,rrown, as stock 

 like it better then, and it springs up again quicker ; besides, 

 when cut at that time, four or five crops may be taken in one 

 year. But if cut just before the flower-buds open, it should not 

 be cut closer to the crown than two inches. It is usual to reap 

 it with a sickle, the crop from one root being as much as a man 

 can get liis arm round when set close. However, it may be 

 mown with a strong scythe. 



In various parts comfrey is specially cultivated as green food 

 for stock during the winter months; and as tlu' young shoots 

 are cut reirulailv everv vear, the plant is never allowed to 

 become liard and woody. Wlien an increase of sets is wanted 

 for extending its growth, the simplest way of obtaining these is 

 to take up a few plants, and carefully divide the roots with a 

 sharp knife, so as to have sets each with a single crown. 



An imperial acre of well-grown young comfrey wliiuh is 

 reguhirly cut will keep four or five horses or cows during the 

 winter and early sjjring months with very little assistance in the 

 shape of hay or roots. 



The proper kind of comfrey to cultivate is Sijiiqyhj/tum aspi r- 



