THE COCKSFOOT CROP.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10941, 17 April 1901, Page 9

THE COCKSFOOT CROP.

According to statistics of the cocksfoot crop for 1900 and 1901 on Bank s Peninsula, compiled by Messrs A. Moritzson and Co.. Dunedin, 1900 yielded the largest crop on record, but as prices were fairly low, a quantity was consumed in this colony, Australia, and England, and America also imported New Zealand-groavn seed—a fact avhich never happened" before. It is -estimated, however, that about 10,000 sacks are carried forward in England and New Zealand to commence the season of 1901. The computed crop on Bank's Peninsula is 61,700 sacks, but Messrs Moritszon and Co. consider that half is not fit for consumption. They state that, from personal observation, only some 30,000 sacks are fit to be marketed. The season has been very had—"the worst on record," to quote the firm's words. "The crop in Taranaki is a miserable failure—-mall, dark and light— and cannot be taken into consideration as affecting the market. About half of the seed grown on the Peninsula weighs 8. 9, 10, and lllb; the bulk of this we believe avill hardly be saleable, at anvrate not at present. The other half consists of 12 and 131b seed, with a small quantity of 141b. The light seed has a low germinating power, as the kernel is hardly "formed. Another feature this year is that most seed Ls 'frowsy,' and therefore the machined weights will only be 13, 14, 15, 161b per bushel, very little 17 and 181b seed will be available, as the machines simply cannot clean to those weights. It is, therefore, natural to surmise, that as soon as English buyers know of this fact the market must improve for this season's good seed, and especially for the heavy seed carried forward from* last year. There may be plenty of 11 and 121b machined seed offering. This will, of course, be the light seed referred to above. Las*t year's second grade colour also will be first grade this year, and many samples are very eiiity with fog, goose, and vetches."