MOA SEED FARM

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 8

MOA SEED FARM

ONE ACRE TO BE SOWN IN SWEET PEAS. A conference was recently held at Dunedin between .Mr E. F. Dutliie and Mr J. H. Nimmo as representing the Committee of Management, Dr Cockayne, Mr H. B. Tennent, Dr J. L. Bruce as representing the Department of Agriculture, Mr J. W. lladfleld (manager of the farm), and Mr 11. F. Titchener (acting district repatriation officer). To Mr Hadfleld’s monthly report was attached a series of recommendations as to next season's operations. The farm operations which he suggests are more extensive than last year’s, and as to the area to be devoted to vegetables, he recommends that it be increased from eight to twenty acres. Mr iladfleld thinks they should devote attention for the present to the production of farm and vegetable seeds, at the same time keeping in touch with flower seed production by devoting annually a small area to that purpose. This year they had made a good start with sweet peas, and ns the soil and climate conditions appear to favour this crop he suggested that next year tbo area be extended to about an acre, and that the production of seed on commercial lines bo attempted. The idea of making the farm produce a comprehensive lot of seed*

i# not practicable. In the end they must specialise along certain lines. The conference resolved that an area be allotted to flowers; also that an area be allotted for experimental purposes, the department to be asked for a grant of £IOO towards the cost of labour; also that inquiries be made as to securing the services of a gardener capable of undertaking the cultivation of vegetables on an extensive scale; and the conference adopted the schedule which provides for an acre being sown in sweet peas. It is understood that the committee has in contemplation the growing of such sweet peas as are in the National Sweet Peas Society’s award list, and all novelties as they come to hand.