COCKSFOOT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XLIX, Issue 2449, 2 March 1900, Page 2

COCKSFOOT.

Tne cutting of the cooksfoot crop at the higher altitudes is ju-sfc abont completed, end the threshing is miking great strides in this most suitable weather. Strange to say,. 8 ime of the seed that had a little rain on it when laying has turned out i better colour than the first that was. harvested. The last threshinga, however, of 'seed cub during the heavy rains indicate great loss of weight. For instance, in paddocks where 901bsper bag was the average before the storms, 80Jbs

was obtained, the iule showing a loss of lOlbe, occasioned by the shedding of the heavier seed when lifting, the pick of the sample following when the eheaves were removed. We hear of some sensational yields, such as beven eaoks per acre for one paddock of Mr John Pettigrew'e, Pigeon Bay, whilst in a good many instances six Backs have been harvested. A report from Lβ Bon's informs ye that the cocksfoot yielded far better than the owners expected, bub there is a large quantity of discoloured seed. The markeb appears to be a trifle better, several of the Litcle River and Lβ Bon's growers having sold for 3d. Mr W. Patton sold a line of 300 sacks of 131b seed for 2|d, and we hear that the Messrs Montgomery have disposed of the whole of their crop, thongh at what price has not transpired. The demand is fairly good, both in Christchurch and Dunedin. The " Lyttehon Times" writes: "Really good heavy and bright samples of cocksfoot are readily saleable at 3d at Lyttelton for 141b seed, but as the bulk offering is mostly either light or discoloured, the general prices ruling are from 2£d to 2sd per lb. at Lyttelton." We hear from Waikerakiken that Mr B. Shadbolt'e 300 acres is all harvested most satisfactorily. Samples from the vicinity are well coloured, though cut late, and the average weight is over 141Bs, through the riddle. The shower of Wednesday night just damped the seed enough to make ib shed very freely yesterday.