CHILDREN TO HELP

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21250, 22 October 1940, Page 7

CHILDREN TO HELP

WOOL-GATHERING FOR PROFIT Children arc to be encouraged to gather wool from fences, hedges, and trees, as was done in the last war. A memorandum issued by the Board of Education recently describes some of the tasks that can be undertaken by school children during the autumn. It is suggested that, besides gathering wool, schools should organise the collection of dandelion roots, autumn crocus roots and seeds, acorns and beech mast, and horse chestnuts. Gathered wool is to be dispatched, carriage paid, in bags preferably containing not less than 501 b in weight, to the Gathered Wool Officer, Cumberland Works, Wool Control. Bradford. There it will be appraised at market value and the proceeds remitted. In one country where this scheme was first suggested over 6001 b of raw wool was gathered by school children in quite a short time, and the sum to be remitted is likely to be as much as £5. The corns and the seeds of the autumn crocus, or meadow saffron, are used in medicine for making into preparations for gout and rheumatism. The corns are dug up at flowering time in the autumn, while the seeds are ready in the spring. Dandelion roots are also required for their medicinal value. Acorns, beech mast, and horse chestnuts are used for pig food.