Recently the Minister of Lauds sent a packet of Lathyrus sylvestris to tho Borough Council. The Christchurch Press has the following about the plant : The seed of the Lathy rus sylvestiis im ported by the late Mr C\leb Whitefoord, tnd planted shortly before that gentle man's lamented death, lina produced a goodly crop of strong and he ilthy plants. These have beon transplanted 1 toly on to the farm :it Waverley, near Kniapoi, at distances of loin to 18iu apart, covering a ■pace threequarters of an acre. Wo have made repeated references to this no.v fodder phut, and may say that it de veloped a wonderfully quick growth both above and below. In the rich nlluvhil soil in which tho socd was nown the roots Boon took a firm hold two or three feet into the ground, whilst the forage pro duced was exceedingly succulent and abundant. Cultle, sheep, and horses were alike anxious to get at it, hence the plants had to be securely protected. The roots phnted out are >ery ftroug and healthy, hence it may be expected that in a short timo a good crop will be ready for cutting to the stock. It may be said tint through all the dry weather the Lathyrus sylvestris did not suffer from drought — its roots go in too deeply to be aftectod by the extreme dryneas of the season. It is said they will descend 15ft or 20ft in quvst of nourishment. This perennial plant promises all that has been said in its favor, and if it will support itself for forty or fifty years, as it ii stated it will, without failure and without manure, it must be invaluable.
