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SYMPHYTUM ASPERRIMUM. 
Symphytum Asperrimum ; OR; Prickly Comfrey,— A new 
species of green food for cattle. A hardy perennial of gigantic growth; 
introduced from Caucasus; as an ornamental plant; in 1801; by Messrs. 
Loddiges, of Hackney; as specified in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine; 
where it is figured; No. 929. Horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and geese 
may be fed with it; and as it is of wonderful growth, and may be cut 
successively from April to October, it may be cultivated to great 
advantage. For horses, to be putin the racks, spread on pastures, or 
the green stalks to be cut with chaff, it will be found most useful. Two 
out of three will take it at once, the others will soon follow, and when 
once the taste is acquired, they will never leave it. Cows do not take 
it at first so freely as the horse, but soon take it and are eager for it. 
For sheep or lambs it is very good ; they will take it freely, the latter 
before they are a month old. It is a very early plant, and immediately 
follows the turnips. The first crop of leaves to be fed off before the 
flowering stalks rise, care being taken not to feed too hard, so as to 
damage the crowns of the plants. Spread on pastures, put in racks or 
folds on fallows, it will be found of great service. For pigs it is very 
useful; they eat it freely and do well. Geese will eat it as soon as 
hatched. It will grow in all soils and situations, superior to any other 
plant, and may be planted by the sides of ditches, in any waste corner, 
fields, orchards, gardens, &c., where only useless rubbish grows. The only 
expense is, the purchase of a few in the first instance, as it may be 
increased to any quantity, and, once established, will last for ever. I 
know some that have stood more than twenty years, and are as full 
of vigour as they have ever been. It is now ready for cutting 
(March 31st). I have cut it when more than seven feet high, and as 
thick as it could stand on the ground. I once cut and weighed one 
square rood ; the average was seventeen tons, three cwt. per acre. I have 
no doubt but that in the course of the year the produce would have been 
thirty tons. I cannot say what effect continual cutting may have on 
this plant, or on the land, for many years together; but as faivas I have 
experienced, it does not weaken the plant. I have cut it three times 
in one year, and found it equally strong the following spring. The 
proper distance for planting it is from two to five feet square, accord¬ 
ing to the quality of the land. It may be planted at any time of the 
year, but, like other herbaceous plants, is best when in a growing 
state. See a letter to Lord Farnborough, signed Dr. Grant, in the 
Northampton Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday, October 10, 
1835. 
