ERGOT COLLECTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 7, 23 January 1942, Page 5

ERGOT COLLECTION

ADVICE TO WORKERS

EFFORTS OF DISTINCT VALUE

Mr J. R. Murray, Agricultural Department office at Whakatane asks collectors or ergot to take note thta their samples of ergot must be thoroughly dry before being handed in for sale. An article in the BEACON last week gave methods of collection and cleaning but many are not drying the ergot before cleaning. Immature ergot has a gummy substance on its base which makes it hard to clean. Freshly picked ergol will lose moisture for some considerable time to spread out to dry.

Ergot is purchased in a dry basi« and cannot be accepted if drying has not been thorough. It can be safely left to dry for upwards of a week or more before cleaning and when it is getting reasonably dry a good test is to break a few grains in the fingers. If a distinct crack is heard then it can be considered sufficiently dry to clean and hand over.

Mr Murray commended the efforts of those who have occupied themselves in this important work to assist the war effort. Many he> said had been disappointed and disheartened at the smallness of the returns for their labour, but he gave assurance that no matter how much the amount collected, every quantity was of great importance and th<> effort a worthy one.