SEED FOR SETTLERS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2136, 11 March 1908, Page 3

SEED FOR SETTLERS.

COCKSFOOT REACHES HIGH PRICES.

LIGHT SUPPLIES ON HAND

inquiries made in the city' on Friday (says the N.Z. “Times”) amongst seed merchants elided, as was anticipated, that the markot is being considerably affected by- tho sudden demand lor largo quantities ol seed, resultant upon tho Govern me id’s aid to settlers who have sutiered by the bush fires.

Holders and growers have advanced their prices from a halfpenny to three-farthings per pound for seed, within the last few days, and merchants have had to raise their selling prices accordingly. Cocksloot was yesterday at from oightpenee-to Jiiliepence per pound, an increase of about 40 per cent, compared with the prices brought during the corresponding period last year. Cocksfoot being a grass particularly suitable for sowing on rough hilly country, such as is to be found in the areas swept by (ires in the North Island, the advance in price really applies more to that than to any other class of seed. So far as other seeds are concerned, prices at present are fairly reasonable.

By way of contrast, rye-grass is cheaper now'than it was at this time last year, due to the good season’s crop. The market is fairly well supplied, there having been particularly large crops in Southland, and Canterbury. Cocksfoot is higher than it lias been for many years, but, apart from tho demand caused for it-through the destruction of pastures by bush fires, it has to be remembered that the demand has been increased owing to the failure of tho American crop last summer. Thus these two occurences following each other have caused extreme prices for this class ol seed. There is this compensation for farmers: That although they are paying more for cocksfoot, they are getting better quality seed than they did lielore, due to the favourable season. Supplies ol cocksfoot are light. Ryegrass under cultivation in the Dominion for the season’s production amounted to 40,1 (5 acres, against 23,893 acres for the previous year, or ail increase of 14,552 acres. Cocksfoot totalled 25.731 acres against 31,633 acres last season. The decrease of 2902 acres on last year’s area under cocksfoot is due to the high prices for butter being- an inducement to dairy farmers to keep their cows in the paddocks instead of growing for %seed.