BANKS PENINSULA COCKSFOOT CROP.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIX, Issue 6186, 6 March 1936, Page 2

BANKS PENINSULA COCKSFOOT CROP.

It is becoming" more widely known, since the Akaroa Cocks foot Seed' Growers Association was formed and advertised the fact widely, that the Cocksfoot grown on Banks Peninsula is £ valuable mother seed crop most suitable for developing pasture,; Its value can be reckoned from the point of view that when ryegrass fails in light lands and dry spells, cocksfoot maintains a good growth. Though cocksfoot does not thrive under hard grazing conditions the sample of seec grown on Banks Peninsula is a persistent leafy type which will outlast inferior imported cocks foot, and' cocksfoot grown in other localities in New Zealand. It seems to thrive on Banks Peninsula and always has done so since first introduced here at Port Levy and Pigeon Bay in 185-3, over 80 years ago. The cocksfoot grown here, from pastures which are eighty years old now; has a world wide reputatior and the agricultural Depaitment recognising its value to the farming industry of the Dominion, has rightly given it protection by way of Government certification. The value of this certification has in recent years resiilted in an uplift of. values, which is very necessary if farmers are to continue growing it. With the ageing of pastures the crops become smaller and whereas 30 years ago, when undoubtedly there was a much larger area kept for seed, the yield was four or live sacks to the acre in an average season, at the present time, the yield is not half that amount. This small yield, together with the fact that on our kills the seed has ail to be cut by hand, makes it costly to produce. This fact has been stressed by i the Cocksfoot -Seed Growers 1 Association delegates, with the seed merchants who handle, the crop. The demand for certified seeds in Australia and elsewhere has given our seed a standing it urgently required and it is pleasing to note that during the past few years prices paid by merchants have increased and become payable to growers. Even with an increased area closed for seed there is a good demand and this year, prices paid are from 6vjd to M per lb for farmers' dressed 1 seed which is quite a payable. price to growers with a fair crop., With prices rising' fori dairy produce, lamb and wool, .however, unless 1 these -priccs are maintained the cocksfoot seed industry on Banks Peninsula is likely to slip. Cocksfoot cannot

be grown now, as in the old days at 4.kl per lb. low production and high Labour costs make it imperative that these old values must be nearly doubled, even in a good season. The value to the Peninsula farmers this year of their cocksfoot seed sales l will amount to something like £30,(101). The industry is well worth' fostering because it provides a good income and valuable winter feed, to growers. Cocksfoot sesd growing works hand in hand with, the dairying industiy, but growers of cocksfoot, are not in many cases giving their paddocks proper treatment. This is exemplified t'his season. Where paddocks have been hard grazed during the past winter, reUirns of seed are only equal to bst year, which a prior yielding year. Where paddocks have been lightly stocked the production of seed has in a few cases doubled. Cocksfoot paddocks can certainly be lightly grazed for three months in the winter, but heavy stocking | results in poor yields. We hopej the cocksfoot industry wills be j fostered and extended because | undoubtedly there is a big future; for certified mother seed pro-j duction and Banks Peninsula is in the unique position of being able to supply a first-class article' with very little trouble. j