An unknown (to me) Composite

[Johnny Redgate]

Someone once told me that the magic ingredient of fertiliser in the rhubarb triangle was a mixture of shoddy and nightsoil.

[Jennie]

Originally Posted by Dorts

Shoddy is still avalable but is used far less these days, which is surprising, as it has a lot going for it and is totally natural.
Dorts.

Last year I bought a tub of this in pelleted form, it was marketed as a deterrent against slugs. Quite effective, too.
I could tell you the name of it, but it's dark out in the shed........

[aeshna5]

Looking up about Sanvitalia there are apparently 4 or 5 species mainly from the New World- SW USA, Mexico, central + South America + possibly 1 species in China.

It's a plant I'm only familar with in gardens/ garden centres + haven't seen one in the wild.

[artdemole]

Sanvitlia procumbens----Mexican creeping zinnia an annual flower available in seed catalogues..as found on google.

[Camilo]

Bless me, what a lot of interest in shoddy fields!

Take a look at Derek Nieman's Country Diary in the Guardian (17/12). He is talking about the same field that I have explored. And he talks of one particular introduced species - the narrow-leaved ragwort. I'm surprised to see the ref. to South Africa as the wool was brought in from Australia and New Zealand.

Country diary: Sandy, Bedfordshire | Environment | The Guardian.

Thanks,for the Mexican creeping zinnia i.d. Artdemole

[diggleken]

Shoddy isnt just rubbish wool or leftovers. It was used loads by the so called heavy wollen areas of West Yorkshire, which led to rich profits for mill owners.
It is leftovers or poorer quality, sure, but was also recycled woollen clothing, often from the continent, from the military and also australia, that was used in combination with purer wool to make items - and often gave greater strength and durability too to the garment.
Some used here in Saddleworth too, we are just on the border between woollen producing yorks and cotton mills of Lancashire - all down to prevailing relative rainfall from the Pennine hills. Cotton needed it more to be made in dampness so it didnt break, wool needs damp less.
Chucked out waste from those times would have had strange seeds in!
Interestingly, I noticed a few months ago in Cotterdale, N Yorks, they had a few sacks of dirty stuff which they may well have been using as fertiliser.
Waste not etc etc.
Cheers
Ken