RAPE AND LINSEED GROWING.

Patea Mail, 19 July 1882, Page 4

RAPE AND LINSEED GROWING.

The following extract the Otago Witness should be of interest to country settlers at this time : “ We wish to bring before the notice of farmers and others the following facts in connection with the above:—At the Christchurch Exhibition there have been exhibited by Mr W. A. Lyon, of Limestone Plains, several bushes of linseed grown by him which conclusively show the advantages of the cultivation of linseed. Each bush was grown from a single seed. Bach bush has 351 capsules and each capsule 10 seeds, making a total of 3510 seeds from one seed. Several styles of sowing were tried in five different places, and it was found that loose sowing is the best, and that a better crop is procured from seed scattered than from that which is sown thickly. The soil does not lose its goodness in such a degree as if sown with another crop. Over 40 bushels to the acre was .procured from Mr Lyon’s trial crop.—F. Singer and Co., Now Zealand Oil Factory.”

From the above there is encouragement to enter into the cultivation of linseed, the Limestone Plains being situated in the Southland provincial district, the climate of which cannot be compared to that of Patea district. There the severity of the winter of necessity lowers the temperature of the soil, and the seeding of the land for any crop is consequently much later in the season than districts further northward and nearer the seaboard. It is important to notice the results of the different styles of sowing. The remark “ loose sowing ” evidently means broadcast sowing, as against sowing in drills. This of necessity means that the land intended to be sown with linseed should be as clean as possible, free from the seeding of weeds &c., of aii3' previous crop. Lands foul with the seeds of weeds, if sown with linseed, would prove disappointing when harvested ; and as the first efforts in any new or untried branch of agriculture either makes or mars its success, it. seems essential that those intending sowing linseed should do so on as clean land as possible ; and with a yield of 30 to 40 bushels per acre, its future cultivation in this district might be considered assured.

Patea Settler