191 2.] 



Spurrey as a Forage Crop. 



1023 



ing by hand. Yields vary largely, according to soil and 

 climate, but 4 to 5 tons of green fodder per acre — ordinary 

 spurrey — would be considered good. The cultivation is 

 simple : a shallow cultivation, one harrowing, sowing of the 

 seed broadcast at the rate of 13 to 18 lb. per acre (or 22 to 

 27 lb. in the case of Giant Spurrey), and a final harrowing. 

 Manuring is not practised. If the giant variety is sown too 

 thinly it becomes hard and woody, loses its nutritive value, 

 and is less liked by stock. In April most farmers in the 

 Campine sow a small area of spurrey, which is useful for 

 the stock for some days in June and July, while at the same 

 time spurrey is sown for the purpose of producing seed, which 

 is harvested about the end of July, when it is mown, dried, 

 and thrashed with flails. 



Experiments in Germany showed that manuring with 

 nitrogenous fertilisers materially increased the yield of the 

 crop, nitrate of soda being better than either sulphate of 

 ammonia or calcium cyanamide (Fiihling's Land-zv. Zeitung, 

 1907, p. 148). 



Spurrey is strongly recommended for use on light sandy 

 soils as a green manure, and also as forage, in Bulletin No. 

 91 (Feb. 1893) of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment 

 Station. It is stated that the plant has proved of much value 

 as a forage crop, but is far more valuable for ploughing in 

 as green manure, its physical effect on light sandy lands 

 being very marked. Indeed, it is considered of greater value 

 for this purpose than any other plant similarly utilised on 

 these soils. Sheep and cows were found to be very partial 

 to the spurrey, and it is remarked that "It is in best condition 

 for pasture from four to six weeks after sowing, though if 

 necessary animals can be turned on much sooner. It 

 furnishes excellent pasturage for cattle, especially milch 

 cows, though they often refuse to taste it at first; but after 

 once eating it will leave the richest clover pasture to return 

 to it. Sheep seem to prefer it above all forage, and all stock 

 thrive upon it, when cut or cured, even eating every particle 

 of dry straw that has been threshed for seed." In a report 

 on the trials, it is stated (Rep. Mich. State Bd. of A grip., 

 1889, p. 81) that "Its value as a manurial plant on these 

 light sands is pronounced. When ploughed under it seems 

 to enrich the soil the most rapidly of all plants used. It 



