HARVESTING OF ERGOT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 3

HARVESTING OF ERGOT

cutting and cleaning

SCHEDULE OF PRICES

£l4,non SET ASIDE In launching n campaign for the collection of ergot infesting grass seed-heads, Mr. E. M Ojnla. of the Department of Agriculture, Gisborne, slates that Hie Government has set aside £14.000 for its purchase this season. Ergot is ready for collection in December, and may be harvested by cutting the heads with a sharp knife or sickle, or by hand-stripping the heads. They should be thoroughly dried in the sun, and placed under cover in the evenings or in wet weather. When thoroughly dry, the ergot may be tapped out of the seed-heads and then winnowed to remove as much foreign matter as possible, care being taken not to damage or break the ergot. When thoroughly dried, pure or practically pure ergot should be placed in airtight containers, such as tobacco tins, and taken to the nearest produce merchant, who will purchase it on the following basis: 100 per cent, clean, dry, whole ergot, 8s per lb or (id an oz; not less than 80 per cent, clean, dry. whole ergot, not more than 20 per cent, clean, dry, broken ergot, 6s 8d per lb, or 5d an oz; not less than 70 per cent, clean, dry, whole ergot, not more than ,80 per cent, straw, seed and foreign material, 5s 4d per lb, or 4d an oz; not less than 50 per cent, clean, dry whole ergot, not more than 30 per cent, straw, seed and foreign material, not more than 20 per cent, broken ergot. 4s per lb, or 3d an oz.