22 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



mers. In Ireland it was grown more extensively and found 

 quite valuable for dairy cattle. The bishop of Kildare was es- 

 pecially conspicuous in its culture at Glassnevin. On the Ca- 

 rew castle farm, the experiments showed a yield of forage re- 

 ported at 82 tons per Irish acre : 2SJ tons in April, 31 tons in 

 July, and 22 J tons in September. 



A few years ago, Mr. Ashburner of Virginia introduced the 

 best variety of prickly comfrey irtto America. From him, as 

 soon as possible, I obtained root cuttings and have grown it ever 

 since. Some of the first plants obtained remain in full vigor 

 all perhaps that were not divided, nor permitted to seed. 



An analysis of the comfrey, made by Voelcher, gave the fol- 

 lowing results the plant taken in green state and also dried at 

 212 F. Natural state. dry. 



Water, 90.66 



Nitrogenous, or flesh forming matters, 2.72 29.12 



(containing nitrogen 4.34) 

 Non-nitrogenous, or heat and fat producing 



compounds, 4.78 51.28 



Mineral matter, (ash) 1.84 19.60 



100.00 100.00 

 A more minute statement of the analysis of Voelcher gives: 



Natural state. dry. 



Water, 90.66 



Oil and chlorophyl, .20 2.20 



'^Soluble albuminous compounds, 1.10 11.81 



(Insoluble " 1.62 17.31 



Gum. mucilage and Sugar, 1.28 13.65 



Woody fibre (cellulose) 3.30 34.43 



Mineral saline matters soluble in water, 1.25 13.32 



Mineral matters insoluble in water, .50 6.28 



100.00 100.00 



'''Containing nitrogen, 1.75 1.88 



[Containing nitrogen, 2.59 2.78 



Like many other forage plants, comfrey, in a green state, con- 

 tains a very large per cent of water. It is extremely rich in mu- 

 cilage and contains the essentials for forming flesh and milk in 

 abundance with little increase of oil or butter. Hence when 

 milk is too rich in oil or butter to be wholesome, as often occurs 

 in the Jersey cow, feeding comfrey would reduce the excess of 

 oily matters in the milk and increase the quantity of the latter. 



I find it excellent for nursing smvs, and indeed for all kinds 

 of hogs, cattle, horses, mules etc. Pigs for slaughtering, fed free- 

 ly with comfrey and sweet potatoes with a little corn or meal, 

 furnish probably the most deliciously nice pork that can be 

 produced by any feed whatever. 



