SEED-GROWING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 54

SEED-GROWING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

One of the effects of the great war has been a great disorganisation of the usual sources of supply of many commodities, the result being that merchants have had to look about for new fields from which to draw their supplies. Whether these new sources will be permanent or not after the war depends to a great extent, in the

case of natural products, on suitability of climate. Germany obtained a monopoly of a number of products more through business push than by the natural suitability of tho country. It is safe to predict that when the readjustment of trade takes place there will be a much closer union in trade matters between Britain and her overseas Dominions and also with Allied countries, than before the war. The Dominions will have a chance such as they have never had before, and it lies with them to take full advantage of the opportunity. Prior to the war. Germany was the source of supply of many farm and garden seeds, and the stoppage'of this supply has caused a great shortage, which has to be made up from elsewhere. For a number of years Canada has been increasing its seed production. This development has been encouraged by both the Dominion and the Provincial Governments by the issue of leaflets, by trials at experimental farms, and latterly by a bounty on certain seeds.

British Columbia—in particular Vancouver Island—enjoys advantages over other parts of Canada in its mild winters, which allow growers of some root-seeds, cabbage, and similar plants—which require two years to produce their seedto leave these in the ground all the winter ; whereas in colder parts they require to be lifted and stored in frostproof cellars, thus adding considerably to the labour and the expense. The climate of Vancouver Island resembles that of the eouth of England or the north of France. Vancouver Island is in the same latitude, and the ocean has a tempering effect on the climate. The seasons, however, are much more settled than in Britain. The summers are warm and dry, thus giving a long, ripening season, which is essential. This, combined with a rich virgin scdl capable of producing large crops, gives the grower advantages not enjoyed in older countries. Bringing the land into cultivation, however, is expensive, as the island was originally almost entirely covered with heavy timber and to clear it costs anywhere over 200dol an acre. In consequence of the expense and the labour of clearing, farming has not been developed so rapidly as in parts where these difficulties are not met with, and the farms are comparatively small. Except in favoured districts where clearing has been easier, many farmers have been content with a few acres cleared. Besides the high cost of land, one of the princpial difficulties is the expense of labour, and seed-growing requires a great deal of hand-labour. Chinese is the cheapest labour, but even Chinamen get more than the usual wages in Europe, and this condition of labour shortage is likely to continue, for a considerable time.

Seed-growing as an industry has not been developed in British Columbia, although increased attention has been given to it in the last few years, and the results have gone to prove that with most seeds the crop has been superior to imported seed. The attention of. seedsmen in Britain has been called to this new source of supply, with the result that there is an increasing number of inquiries, and one large seedsman has such faith in the future of seed-growing on the island that he has purchased 200 acres to develop as a seed-farm. Among the varieties of seed thus far grown may be mentioned all species of the cabbage family, turnips, radish, carrot, lettuce, beetroot; also all- ordinary varieties of flower seeds—in particular sweet peas,, stocks, and asters. Peas, beans, and grass and clover seeds have not been grown to any extent, as these are usually produced on a large scale, and the business has not been developed to this extent yet. There is, however, no doubt that such seeds could also be grown of the finest quality. For the reasons already given it can hardly be expected that prices of seed will be low for at least a considerable time to come, but if there is any article for which it is true economy to'pay a fair price it is seed. There is no question as to the suitability of the climate of British Columbia for producing all the varieties of seed hitherto supplied by European growers. What is required now is that a sufficient market in Britain should be established to show the superiority of ' British Columbian-grown seed, and merchants will have the additional satisfaction of helping to develop one more industry within the Empire.