HERB-FARMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3064, 27 April 1917, Page 2

HERB-FARMS

AN INDUSTRY FOR WOMEN. Tho following artiole taken from tho "Sydney Morning Herald" may possibly suggest a. now line of action to New Zoaknd women living ,in the country or on farms, whoro it is possible to get ground! for -tho cultivation of the industry described below. To people living in tho city, or, for that matter, oven in country towns, there is sometimes considerable difficulty in obtaining herbs for household uses, and if h'qrb growing woro started by a few energetic pooplo who wished to asaiet patriotio funds, or oven to make a little pocket money for their own use, it might bo found to be a lucrative occupation. Wellington does not run to gardtens, and for that reason it is possible that there may be a market for ;he industry of herb-growing. There is something very fascinating and full of associations in tho names of some of theso herbs, and to many they conjure up pictures of Old World: kitchen gardens, fragrant with thyme, sweet marjoram, sage, balsam, and all the sweet okMaehionea: flowers that used to flourish so gaily and so simply. In the artiole, tho' writer was taken to boo the herb farm owned by Mr. Goorgo Morgan, situated near • Ballarat, Victoria. The owner has cultivated herbs there for 30 years. At present ho has 16 acres under cultivation—chiefly' sage, marjoram, and thyme. It is the largest farm of its kind in-Australia. Somo very interesting facts on , herbs and herii fanning woro given to tho visitors by Mr. Morgan. ! He stated that before the war Australia imported annually £10,000 worth of culinary horos, and now that tho Continental market is., closed the shortage is . assuming serious proportions. The demand is much greater than the supply. This season tho herbs are not harvested! on tho Continent. One firm here is prepared to purchase Mr. Morgan's entire harvest. Prices have gone-up enormously, and naturally tho market'must continuo in this state for, somo time. Butchers and merchants aro the chief buyors. Three tons of sage worth hundreds of pounds, sterling was stacked in one of Mr. Morgan'a barns. Sago is tho most expensive of these herbs, and a fresh supply is sent out:oach season, for, like ■tea', the new leaf is tho host. .. ■ Mr. Morgan states emphatically that womon could easily grow' herbs profitably and enjoy, health at the same time. The implements required are certainly simple. A hoe, a sickle, a flail, and V few baskets appear sufficient, though Mr. Morgan has soteral ingenious devices, invented by himself, to lighten labour. Ho is also having somo modern machinery plifcod i» a largo shed, as his business has so much increased that ho is obliged to hasten with the work. But he advises women to try on a small scale at first. Several sheep were gracing among the herbs while the visitors were being shown