Select extra-tropical plants : readily eligible for industrial culture or naturalization, with indications of their native countries and some of their uses / by Baron Ferd. von Mueller.

  • Ferdinand von Mueller
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Select extra-tropical plants : readily eligible for industrial culture or naturalization, with indications of their native countries and some of their uses / by Baron Ferd. von Mueller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Bnissels-sprouts, kale, kokl-rabi &c. Some regard the fattening qualities of cabbage as superior to those of turnips, particularly for stable-food during the autumnal season. The gluten of cabbages on one acre has been estimated at 1,500 lbs. against 1,000 lbs. of gluten obtainable from turnips. Other races of this species are collectively represented by Brassica Rapa, L. (B. campestris, L.), the wild Navew, yielding most of the varieties of turnips, some handed down to us from ancient times with other cultivated forms. Again, other varieties are comprehended within Brassica Napus, L., such as the Swedish and Teltower turnips, while the Rape-seed, so important for its oil (Colza), is also derived from a form of B. Napus. The Rape-plant should be reared extensively for agrarian produce, giving a rapid return, wherever it remains free from aphides. Ordinary Rape is a good admixture to summer-fodder. Important where bees are kept. The hardier turnips can be produced on the highest Alps, as they are grown even within the Arctic Circle, and according to Sir J. Hooker at a height of 15,000 feet in the Himalayan mountains. Oil-Rape and Turnips are grown as far north as 70° 22'in Norway (Scliue- beler), yet they also succeed as winter-crops in the hottest parts of Central Australia. Rhind mentions a very tall variety, introduced from the Vendee, as cattle-provender. Bromus asper, Murray. Europe, Northern and Middle Asia. A good perennial fodder-grass for wood-regions; but like Festuca gigantea late in the season. Bromus ciliatus, Lhme. North-America. A perennial fattening grass, resembling the Prairie-grass, growing in mild temperate climes all the winter and also during summer, if drought is not too long continued, starting afresh after the least rain (Dr. Curl). Bromus erectus, Hudson. Europe, Northern Africa. Important as a perennial nutritious grass for dry limestone-regions; much liked by cattle and sheep. Bromus umoloid.es, Humboldt.* (B. Schraderi, Kunth.) From Central America to the sub-alpine zone of Northern Argen- tina. In Australia called the Prairie-grass. It has spread over marny parts of the globe. The writer saw it disseminated on the mountains of St. Vincent’s Gulf as early as 1847. It is one of the richest of all grasses, grows continuously and spreads rapidly from seeds, particu- larly on fertile and somewhat humid soil, and has proved as a lasting and nutritious fodder-grass or pasture-grass one of our best acquisi- tions. Very early out in the season for fodder. Kept alive in the hottest and driest parts of Central-Australia, where it was first intro- duced by the writer of this work. In Norway it comes to perfection up to lat. 67° 55' (Schuebeler). Chemical analysis in early spring gave: albumen, 2-80; gluten, 3-80; starch, 3'30; gnm, IrO; sugar, 2-30 per cent. (F. v. Mueller and L. Rummel).