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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6

2. "Prickly Comfrey."—

2. "Prickly Comfrey."—

This is a species of Symphytum which has recently been prominently brought into notice as a forage plant. It is apparently identical with a Symphytum which has long been naturalised in the neighbourhood of Bath and elsewhere, and which has been identified by botanists with. S. asperrimum, a native of the Caucasus. Neither the naturalised nor the forage plant appear to be really identical with that species, but have been found by Mr. Baker to agree with Symphytum peregrinum, which appears to be not certainly known as wild anywhere, but to be probably a hybrid of garden origin between Symphytum officinale and S. asperrimum.

Prickly Comfrey, with, it must be confessed, little judgment, has been tried in a variety of countries where the climate is wholly unsuited to its habit of growth. The result has been attended with a good deal of disappointment. In England it has been found very useful for winter fodder, as it forms large, tufts of root-leaves which start into growth early in the year, and bear several cuttings. It is greedily eaten by animals which refuse ordinary Comfrey, the habit and appearance of which is not very dissimilar.

In India Mr. Buck, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce of the North-west Provinces, reports:—"The general result of the experiment in this department is that the climate of the plains is quite unsuitable to the Prickly Comfrey, the plant having failed whenever it has been tried; but there is still some chance of its succeeding under proper treatment in the hills." (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind., N.S., Vol. vi, p. 54.) On the other hand, the Rev. G. Richter reports from Coorg:—"The Prickly Comfrey appears to be firmly established in Coorg; fields seen in different coffee plantations are as luxuriant as can be desired."

Dr. Schomburgk, Director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, is convinced that the plant is of little use, at least, to the South Australian plains:—"During the winter months the plants throve satisfactorily and produced some fine leaves, but in the month of October the leaves began to suffer, and . . . . . dried up before any of the grasses . . . . . . The same complaint we hear from page 13 New South Wales, Victoria, even from tropical countries, such as Queensland, Ceylon, Singapore, &c., where the planters have been disappointed with it."