LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8997, 8 November 1907, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

IMPORTED PESTS. Sir, —Ou several occasions lately Bnr attention has been called by farmers to the quality of oats imported from Australia (particularly Algerians). In one case a farmer who hud bceu supplied wtili socalled seed oats referred the sample to us before sowing. This sample contained a heavy percentage of Californian thistle, and no less than nine varieties of other noxious weeds. In another case a farmer bought feed oats, his horses boiug engaged iu ploughing and preparing 100 acres for sowing down iu grass. Fortunately he, being a practical man, noticed that tho oats were full of Californian thistle, and threw them back ou tho suppliers’ hands. This man buys his grass seeds from us, aud had ins horses been fed with tho oat? ho would naturally have laid tho blame for tho state of his pasture (which must inevitably have been foul with Californian thistle, etc.,) ou tho seed supplied by ns. We have already written a letter ou this subject to a local paper, but have boou asked by several farmers to write to you as well, as your paper circulates so largely iu the country districts, and ns it is important to both seed merchants and farmers that publicity should bo given to tho matter, wo trust yon will see your way to insert this. Wo have lately had submitted to ns a sample of oats imported from Canada, and found them full of foreign seeds. jt appears to us that tho only safeguard to farmers would bo to have export Inspection of all grain in - ported into tho colony—We are, etc., BARR AUD & ABRAHAM, LTD.