The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1915. A SIDELINE INDUSTRY.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 March 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY LEVIN. MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1915. A SIDELINE INDUSTRY.

P-ot-entioal wealth that may be easily won lies in every homestead around Levin. It forms the root of the dandelion, generally held in -small esteem as a fodder though sheep and cattle do eat its leaves, and thrive thereon. At this (stage i>l our article we suspicion that some of our readers will be I thinking of writing to. us to .say that what is known locally as the dandelion really is tho Cape-weed, so we hasten id add that we possess that knowledge allied to an idea that for purposes of commercial usage the Cape-weed and the dandelion are .synonymous. Some detail* of the uses to which these plants are put appear in a leaflet issued by Ihe Agricultural Department. Tt seems that the world's supply of tho prepared roots has been drawn from Germany until lately, and the bulk of the supplies bring cut off at present ■the users of the root are casting around for other sources of supply. As the market value for large parcejs runs from £o to £6 per hundredweight, the margin of profit ifi considerable, for Hie work of preparation is simple and comparatively inexpensive.. The roots when dug. must be washed clean, sliced fiid dried, and a hundred parts <rf fresh root will yield twenty-two parts of dry material. The roots are used for medical-purposes and as a substitute for coffee. Any Levin settlors whose lads are full of energy unapplied shoulc; direct their energies into this new avenue of usefulness. iYEAVS FROM DRV SHEETS. The Abstract of Statistics issued every month by the Government Statistician of New Zealand now appears In pamphlet form, and is'much handier for reference that it was aforetime. From the latest iVsue (February) tho Chronicle makes a few extracts and comparison.': for boncfit of its readers who have not the opportunity or .time for fiiwt-hand reference-. \\ e note that the healthy state of our export trade that was apparent throughout November and December was well maintained in tho first month <>,f the New Year. By comparison with January 1[)14, the exports of New Zealand produce from New Zealand during Januarv 1915 showed an increased value of £111,000. Perhaps the most notable increase was in specie (gold, etc.) Tn the mouth of Januai-y. IPM. only £1000 in money was exported, but thiV year the January export rose to £8250. By taking cognisance of all exports, the gain for January 1015 is still more remarkable. Tn January, 1911, the total value wan C3oO.O9l—constituting an excess of opening month of this year wore £3,oo.o9l—constituting an excess of £132,275.