SUNFLOWER GROWING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 8

SUNFLOWER GROWING.

Many Uses for Plant Found in Russia. “In Russia, two hundred thousand acres ar© planted in sunflowers,’* said Mr W. E. Lead ley, at this morning’s meeting of the Disabled Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment Committee. “ The stems are used in the production of fibre, dies are obtained from the petals, and cattle cakes from the seeds. Every part can be used for commercial purposes.” Mr Leadley said that the tobacco plants cultivated by disabled soldiers at New Brighton were doing well. Sunflowers had been planted for shelter belts, and had shown remarkable growth. He had been shown one flower, and he had never seen such growth. Mr Leadley then made reference to the commercial possibilities of sunflowers. ” The tobacco is doing very well,” said Mr Leadley. “It was planted rather late, and the dry weather has held it back to a certain extent. However, the men are just as enthusiastic After the meeting Mr Leadley said that New Zealand was too far away from the world markets to make sunflower growing a profitable industry.