THE COCKSFOOT HARVEST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1445, 21 May 1912, Page 8

THE COCKSFOOT HARVEST.

YIELD FOR 1012. REVIEWED BY A MERCHANT. The cocksfoot harvest on Banks Peninsula this vr-nr is said to have yielded some 56,011! Mick*, but when (ho season started 3000 or (MOO sacks were earned iurward from the 1011 harvest. Farmers thought Ihev would get more money lor their seed in the spring, but their expectations were not realised as tho demand was limited both in New Zea and and in Uurope on account of the high price* ruling. 'Referring (o the quality'_ot the seed Jlr. A. Jlorilzsnn, of Duuedui, .states in his annual review of the crop (hat the cold and wet season had its effects upon the quality. The proportion of 131b. and Mlb. seed is small; there, is a fair'proportion of 111b. and 12lli. seed, but there is a fair quantity of seed as low as 81b. and 01b. This class oi serd is not wanted at all, and will bo worth very little money-a few samples ore musty. ..,'«■ , 'J he rolour is from fair lo off colour and none is very bright. \« a rule, harvesting commences on tho last dav nf December, or early in .Taniiarv, and with a good working season all harvesting should be over by not later than the middle of February. Mr. Moritzson has known of a season lasting 30 days from the moment the reaping hook went into the crop until all seed was gathered and riddled into the bags. This vear harvesting did not commence until the middle of February, and then only in isolated spots. During the wholeof this period it was raining oft and on, and the farmers could not complete their work satisfactorily; in fact, in the first week of April there were still some crops being threshed. This state of things has never teen experienced in New Zealand before. , r ~ During the last few years .Mr. Moiitzson reports, prices of cocksfoot in New Zealand have been ruling very high, with the result that the demand in Europe for New Zealand seed has fallen off, and tho cocksfoot-producing countries which have not saved anv seed for years back have,, during tho last.Tfcw years, owing to tnohigh prices ruling here, gathered all they possibly could, and the quantities put on the market, during the last two or three years have''been on the increase, with the result that if quantities continue to increase as thev have been doing_ Europe will shortly he'independent of New Zealand cocksfoot. It is, he says, .a wellknown fact that during 1011 the Danes offered and sold Danish-grown s.eed at from 7d. to 7Jd- c.i.f.. main' ports, New. Zealaud, for clean lolb. and 161b. seed, while New'Zealandcrs asked from Bd. to !)d. per lb.

The Farmers' Standpoint. The position from the farmers' standpoint is thus put by him: The facts are that they are- not entirely blameable for the high prices ruling; last year and previous rears the crops have only been medium, and a very small one for 1014. The North Island has been a great factor for putting np prices early in the season during the last few years, owing to the ex coptionally heavy demand from there. A large area of land has been opened up, successful burns took place, ami stock and wool have been high, with the result that the North Island buyers paid nnv price for cocksfoot that was asked. This rear the demand lias been small. Owing to the wet season very little burning took place, with the result that prices came down with a run. The North Island will not bo requiring any until the spring; London will not buy until the spring, so the'farmer will perforce have to hold and trust to good luck. Another factor of importance is that the farmer expects bigger prices, lweauso the cost of'farm labour has increased considerably. Where formerly a good man would be 'satisfied with Is. to Is. 3d.- per hour, he now demands anything from Is. fid. to 2s. per hour. Land has alsn gone up considerably on Banks Peninsula. These things taken into consideration, the farmer naturally expects higher prices for his seed. The Peninsula crops for the last 27 sea--sons are given as under:— Values. Year. Packs, d. d. ISBS 50,820 , - 1886 57,652 - iSS7 42,035 — 18SS 45,708 — 1880 40,230 — 1800 43,337 - 1891 35,053 43 to a\ 1802 58,542 3'. to I 1803 48,7(15 21 to (J ISOt 35.203 4 to 7 1895 50.3311 3J to I!!S!)6 '. 41,202 3!. to 5 1807 43,0110' 31 to 4 1808 47,411 31 t0.5 1800 10,000 21 to 41 1000 80,235 ■!', to 4 1001 61,710 2J to 5 1002 45.562 ?.} to o\ 1003 06.570 3! to 5 19(11 63,800 31 to 51 1005 67,1115 3 to 5.j 1000 87,012 3J to 6 1007 67.516 to 8 IOOS 53,120 5 to 8 1000 55.000 fl to 8 1010 70,500 a to 7 1011 35,383 51 to 9 1912 50,010 4 to "i The values indicated above *iro tho prices for farmers' riddled, up to tho price of machined seed. The quantity of machined sce<l, us a rule, is 20 iiur cent Nss than riddled, but this year tho loss will be fully 30 per cent, owing to foulness. There has been a fair amount of seed saved, both in other parts- of the south as well as in the North Island, and Sir. Mortizson thinks ho is not far out in putting that quantity down at about 15,000 sacks. Quantities would therefore stand as follow.— Sacks. Carried forward from 1011 5,000 1012 crop on Banks Peninsula 56,000 Other parts of New Zealand 15,000 Total 76,00!) Xo matter what the state of the market may be, cheese made by the use of "Victor" Vats will always command the highest ruling price, and secure best ret iirus-- in Hie way of l.i? prolits for the, factory shareholders. "Victor" Vats are made with sloping bottoms, which drain n«av everv drop of whev and leave Ihe curd high'and dry. Write to-day for particulars. Albert .1. l'arlnn, Carterton.' Chink-rearing lo not only profitable, but a pleasure, when von feed "A ami P' Chitk-llaise.-. It is complete and pro. po-lv-blendcj food for 1 oung Chicks, u'-itiinable from all storekeepers.- -Adit.