MEDICINAL HERBS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 21, 20 October 1941, Page 12

MEDICINAL HERBS

Fear Of Spreading Said To

Be Groundless Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS, October 18. There were no grounds for fear of the spread of the medicinal herbs being grown by the Hastings Seed-Cropping Committee, said a member of the committee today, commenting on. the criticism of the Hawke’s Bay County Council concerning the herbs. “Actually, the plants will not be allowed to flower, let alone go to seed,” he said.

In its agreement with the Department of Agriculture the committee is compelled to remove all roots and burn them after the required leaves have been harvested. It is important to note that these plants do not flower till the second year of their growth, but, for the purposes of the committee, the plants are to have only one year of growth. Even assuming that a stray root or two are left after the first year, the chances of survival are made remote by the fact that, the area will be cultivated and the soil turned over. The' germination of the. plants is carried out in a professional Hastings nursery, and the seedlings are handed over to the committee for planting. “There can be no possible danger to anyone,” stated the committeeman. “The venture is not just an experiment, but is to be conducted on business-like lines. There can be no question of the plants spreading.” This year 26 acres are to be planted in herbs, and the areas have been cultivated. The committee is now awaiting receipt of the seedlings, which are in the process of being “hardened-off.” The other crops being grown by the committee iu the sections in the town are growing well, and several appear as though they are going to seed much earlier this year than they did last season. It is expected that the crops of red and silver beet and the parsnips will be ready for harvesting in December.. ■