CHANCE TO EARN MONEY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 74, 20 December 1933, Page 16

CHANCE TO EARN MONEY

Collection of Cocksfoot Seed

BETTER PRICE THIS YEAR

An opportunity for the unemployed and others desirous of making a little extra money now presents itself. The manager of one of the local seed firms informed a “Dominion” reporter yesterday that he was prepared to purchase properly-saved cocksfoot in any quantity. Owing to the extremely dry weather that has been exjterienced on Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury plains, the cocksfoot crop is likely to be a verv

small one. Prices, therefore, will be higher than usual, and under these circumstances it will be a payable proposition, for those who have the time, to cut seed in the North Island. If properly saved, this seed should be worth from 4d. to 6d. per lb., according to its colour and weight. During the last two or three seasons cocksfoot has not been a very remunerative business for those who have saved it, but it should certainly prove more profitable this year, and school children can easily earn good pocket money by spending their time cutting and saving seed.

To those who have not previously had experience in handling cocksfoot, the following suggestions might prove useful Before cutting it is important to see that the seed heads are almost ripe and not green. Grasp a back-handed handful, just below the seed heads, and with an ordinary sickle cut towards you—knife style—don’t hack. Lay sheaves on flattened stubble, with

seed heads up, and leave for about five to seven days. Bain will not hurt if sheaves are so laid that any moisture will drain off them. While this process is going on, turn your attention to the making of a flail. Get a manuka stick Ilin, diameter by oft. long, another about 3ft. long, and join together with a piece of green-hide, allowing about three inches play. This is better done by cutting a grove at the end of each stick. The short stick acts as the beater. When carrying the seed heads to your flailing sheet, which should be stout calico about 12ft. by 12 ft., it is advisable to use chaff sacks Cut open and insert stick at each long end, thus forming a stretcher. Place heads of sheaves to centre of stretcher. It is better to thresh in the sun and not in the shade or in dull weather Flail all seed out thoroughly, and then sieve through fine mesh wire-netting tb remove all straws and rough double heads. When bagging, the seed should be perfectly dry to avoid mustiness.