y6o Cultivation of Furze for Fodder, etc. [dec, 



Seeding is carried out in the spring, at the rate of about 

 1 8 lb. per acre. The plant is cultivated in rows of about 

 a yard in width, running from north to south, in order that 

 the plants may derive the greatest possible benefit from light 

 and air. The plant grows vigorously without any attention, 

 and may last on the same plantation for ten years. 



The first cutting for fodder is carried out in the second 

 winter after sowing, in November, December, January, and 

 February. From March onwards the furze is bitter, and is not 

 readily eaten by stock. Where cultivation is carried on for 

 seed, it is stated that growers alternate the production for 

 fodder and for seed, as production of seed is considered ex- 

 hausting for a furze plantation. 



The sale of the seed is of importance in some districts, and 

 the following information, obtained by the French Ministry 

 of Agriculture, and forwarded to the Board through the 

 Foreign Office, will be of interest in connection with this 

 subject. 



In no case is the cultivation of furze for seed carried on as 

 the sole means of livelihood, as the seed can only be harvested 

 biennially; at least eighteen months after cutting or five 

 months after flowering must elapse before harvesting of the 

 seeds can take place. If a crop is cut during the winter as 

 forage it will not flower until the end of the following winter, 

 the flowering period being from January to April. In the 

 western districts of the Department of C6tes-du-Nord complete 

 maturity of the seed occurs at the end of June and during the 

 first fortnight of July. In Morbihan the seed is harvested on 

 plants of two years. 



Harvesting. — Although not complicated, harvesting opera- 

 tions require to be attended with several precautions. The 

 fruit is a dehiscent pod, which opens violently at complete 

 maturity (above all if the weather is dry), and the seeds are 

 scattered in all directions ; thus, if harvesting is left too late 

 there is a loss of seed, and only those pods which are not 

 so mature can be gathered. The plantation must be carefully | 

 watched, and cutting undertaken when the pods have a brown 

 tint, this being a sign of approaching maturity. In Morbihan 

 the majority of cultivators wait until the first pods are ripe, 

 and even until a certain number have opened from advanced j 

 maturity. 



