CULTIVATION AND CHEMISTRY OF. 255 



soils under the ordinary conditions of moisture ; the com- 

 mon species requires a moister soil, and therefore is only 

 suited for growing in peculiar localities. They are both 

 easily propagated either by their seeds or their roots: 

 the latter is the method usually practised, as the seeds 

 seldom ripen in any quantity, and time is lost before the 

 seedling plants arrive at maturity. The roots may be 

 taken up and divided, and replanted in rows 2 feet apart, 

 and at about 18-inch distances between each plant, the 

 soil being previously prepared for their reception by 

 deep cultivation, cleaning, and good manuring. If this 

 has been well attended to, the crop requires no further care 

 than that of hoeing occasionally to keep it clear of weeds. 

 The first year's produce after planting is comparatively 

 small, giving perhaps only two good cuttings. In subse- 

 quent years, if the condition of the land be sustained by 

 the application of dung or other manures at the end of 

 the season, three or four cuttings, of from 5 to 30 tons 

 each to the acre, may generally be obtained. 



The Comfrey is grown only to such a small extent as 

 to have attracted but little attention in respect to the in- 

 juries to which it is subject from disease or the attacks 

 of insects. Neither do we know much about its chem- 

 istry, or its real value for feeding purposes; the only 

 evidence we have is in the shape of the following analysis 

 by Sprengel: 



Organic composition of S. officinale in a fresh state. 



Water, SS'OO 



Organic matter, 9*70 



Ash or mineral matter, 2*30 



100-00 



The composition of this mineral matter is thus given: 



Potash 31-2 | Phosphoric acid, 11-4 



Soda, 10-8 



Lime, 207 



Magnesia, 1*3 



Iron, Peroxide, *4 



Sulphuric acid, 3'9 



Silica, 17-2 



Chlorine, 3-1 



100-00 



