HARVEST WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 6

HARVEST WORK

' Sir,—The Minister of Munitions has suggested to the Farmers' Union that boys audi girls in High Schools and technical Schools" snould bo given an opportunity to assist in harvesting, to take"the place of some of the men who have enlisted. As so little grain is grown tms year in the North Island, pro'oably much Tatonr will be required there for that purpose, would suggest that something should be done to encourage the saving of grass seed, specially cocksfoot. Owing to a splenSi<J season in most districts where it grows well, plantations and sides of railway lines and roads, where there is no busy traffic, are waving with it, but through scarcity of labour to gather it we are dependent on seed imported' from Denmark', for which fanners who have to sow it have to pay Is. 3d. or Is. 4d. per lb., thus sending money, out oFTue Empire when most wanted. The gathering of cocksfoot seed would be far easfer for hoys and girls than harvesting grain, _and only a sickle to cut it and sticks to make a flail to beat ff out" are required. The railway authorities and local bodies should permit it wherever possible, and as the seed will be fit to cut' early in January in some, places, some steps should be taken at once to organise_ a. scheme to prevent the seed from being wasted. It is often very plentiful in back streets or our • country towns, where stock are not allowed to graze, and those gathering it would TafeTy have to go any great- distance for it. —I am, etc., , "COCKSFOOT."