The story of how it morphed from exotic ornamental to the farmers dream forage is interesting. Sacaline was discovered by a Russian explorer on an island between Russia and Japan. Then around 1869 it was discovered by gardeners in a Russian botanical garden where its impressive size and foliage was hard not to notice! As an ornamental foliage plant it was exported to many countries.
A horrendous drought in Europe in 1893 starved a large number of animals. It was noticed that Sacaline (Polygonum sachalinense) with its deep roots survived well and was eagerly eaten by cattle. The French agriculturists advertised this and by 1894 Sacaline was being promoted by seed companies as a wonder plant, a farmer's dream forage for difficult land and drought.
I noticed Scaline because of this engraving by A. Blanc's workshop. Blanc is one of my favorite botanical artist engravers. This page is from the 1895 Huntington Seed Company catalog.
After you read the seedman's description it is interesting to read testimonials from people who tried to grow it from seed!!
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| To read the bottom of the page go to 1895 Huntington Seed Company |
From a report of the California Agricultural Experiment Station 1896:
Wm. H. Hilton, Glen Ellen, Sonoma County.—Sacaline seeds were planted in a sandy sediment loam; the seeds came up, but were eaten off by the stock as fast as they appeared.
O. Hummeltenberg, Santa Clara, Santa Clara County.—Sacaline, after transplanting,
grew to be a foot high, but died down in autumn. Since then the plants sprouted again, butthe cold weather has cut them down again, and I do not know whether they will grow again or not. I do not think it will become a pest on our place.
H. E. Brown, St. Helena, Napa County.—I raised some fine plants of Sacaline and planted some on gravel, some on adobe, some on hard dry land, some on wet land, and some on good loam. All died.
S. H. Haskell, Portersville, Tulare County.—Sacaline plants were sunburnt pretty badly.
A. B. Leckenby, Bakersfield, Kern County —...is easily propagated from its numerous rhizomes, but seeds sparingly, if at all. Polygonum sachalinense with us appears to be less valuable than the two species mentioned. Our experience is limited to one large plant received from the University. The foliage is very sensitive to frost, and it is evidently poorly adapted to our soil.
J. A. Girard, Cauucos, San Luis Obispo County—One dozen plants of Saghalin polygonum, with abundance of water, now cover a space about sixteen feet square. I intend, with the seed I shall gather, to experiment on dry and waste land. '
C. B. Blain, La Canada, Los Angeles County.—Saghalin polygonum seed germinated very poorly, but the few plants I have, are doing nicely.
Mrs. Theresa Keys, Alhambra, Los Angeles County.—Sacaline seeds came up very well, better than I feared from what I had read of the difficulty in starting them. I have not transplanted them yet; fearing to do so till after the rains come, as I want to put them on the edge of the arroyo in poor, sandy soil. I am afraid to put them on better land, for fear it might be a troublesome root to get out. Think it will be fine to hold the bank when the water tears down the arroyo in the winter; also, the stock can get it.
W L. Hall, Cerritos Ranch, Nordho , Ventura County.—The Sacaline seed that I got last year did not come up for me, and a few I gave a friend came up, but soon died out.
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