6 PRICKLJ COMFREY \s A FORAGE CROP. 
seed. These root cuttings may be cither crown cuttings (fig. 2, J! I or 
transverse sections of the lower taproots (fig. 2, C), and they may be 
quite small, so that the number secured from a single plant will be 
considerable even in one year. They are planted in rows, usually 
about 3 feet apart each way, or 3 feet between the rows and l\ to 2 
feet apart in the row, the distance depending on the fertility of the 
soil. When first planted, the young sets must he given frequent and 
thorough cultivation. The sets made from crown cuttings usually 
bloom the first year, while those made from pieces of the taproots will 
not bloom as a rule until the second reason. 
CULTURE OF THE CROP. 
Cultivation should be continued after each cutting until the plants 
are large enough to shade the ground, and a light top-dressing of 
manure should be given the field after each cutting if large and fre- 
quent crops are to be expected. The cuttings should always be made 
before seed has formed. From three to six crops a year may be ob- 
tained, and in good soil a field is supposed to last from fifteen to 
twenty years without replanting, returning a yield of 10 to 40 tons 
of green feed per acre each year. 
VALUE OF PRICKLY COMFREY AS A SOILING CROP FOR DAIRY 
COWS. 
It is as a soiling crop for dairy cows that comfrey has proved of 
most value. Dr. Henry Foster, of Clifton Springs, X. Y., has been 
in the past the most enthusiastic advocate of comfrey for this pur- 
pose." Doctor Foster top-dressed his fields with manure after each 
cutting and cultivated thoroughly. In this way he claimed to have 
secured a, yield of 50 tons per acre in five cuttings. According to 
his statement the cows ate it greedily, and no other crop equaled it 
in producing quantity and quality of milk. 
At the New York Agricultural Experiment Station' 7 dairy cows at 
first refused to eat green comfrey. Coin meal was then sprinkled 
over the comfrey ill the manger, hut it was knocked oil' and licked 
up from the bottom of the feed boxes. As a last resource, salt was 
scattered oxer the comfrey and the animals were thus induced to eat 
it. They soon became fond of it and afterwards ate it readily with- 
out salting. 
VALUE OF PRICKLY COMFREY FOR FEEDING HOGS. 
Experiments were carried on at the New "> oik Agricultural Experi- 
ment Station'' in which two lots of hogs, averaging 64 pounds each, 
were led during three weeks all the comfrey they would cat. in addi- 
a Report, New York Agricultural Experiment Station, L887, \> 72. 
6 Bulletin 22, n. s., W« fricultural Experiment Station, pp.292 295. 
I ' Lr. 17 1 
