Export of Grass Seed

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 13

Export of Grass Seed

Sir, —I notice that there is a scarcity of ryegrass and cocksfoot seed at Home, and as there is a plethora of both growing upon road sides and waste places and railways from Auckland to the Bluff, it is to be hoped the unemployed will busy themselves saving the tons of seed which if not gathered will go to waste. Any stock and station agent will buy undressed seed which can be easily threshed on-■a wooden floor with a bundle of willow wands and I have seen children in South Island districts earn pounds in a week, when seed was much cheaper than it is now. It almost made me weep to see beautiful crops of cocksfoot growing upon country road lines in the North Island being cut green and burned by the unemployed. Most of the farmers’ seeds we import are grown in Germany and Northern Europe and grass and clover seeds grown here are in high repute at Home and fortunately there is no limit in this case to the quantity exported. Any small farmer devoting his energies, to the careful cultivation of these seeds would reap a good reward, and Mr. Tannock, of Dunedin, the well-known curator of the public gardens, will supply information through the public prints.— I am, etc., PRIMARY PRODUCER. Oamaru, December 11.