FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY.

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. TURXJLP, SWEDE, AND RAPE SEED SUPPLIES. A WARNING TO FARMERS. The Board of Agriculture held a lengthy meeting on 'May 15, at which there was a large attendance of members, the president (Sir James Wilson) being in the chair-' Mr. Pope. Secretary of Agriculture, was also present at the meeting, and many matters of agricultural interest were discussed. The (board went very exhaustively into the question of the supply of turnip and swede seeds, as inquiries from merchants had shown that the stocks were seriously below the probaible requirements for the coming season. l'ull details of the quantities on hand and expected to arrive from Great Britain, and the usual annua! requirements, were laid before the meeting, and t'.ic best steps to be taken to secure a sufficient supply for the coming season were discussed- It was pointed out that as there was such a shortage of supply of seeds in Great Britain the neeessity for reserving sufficient to meet home requirements compelled restriction of exports even to British possessions, and with regard to some seeds export licenses were ibeing entirely, refused. It was decided to issue a warning to farmers that there would probably be a shortage of turnip and swede seeds for l!)ks sowing, and to make the suggestion t hat they should reserve a portion of their crops for seed purposes, also to advise that it would be well to husband our resources as much' as possible. The position with regard to 191!) supplies was still doubtful, but .it seemed extremely probable that Great Britain would foe short, and attempts were being made t» persuade merchants and farmers to grow at least 1000 acres of turnips for seed, to be harvested about next December or January. It was thought that certain varieties such as 'Purple Top Mammoth, Rod Paragon, and other early maturing varieties mjght not be obtainable for IMS requirements, and that it might be necessary to do without these varieties for a season.

So far as rape was concerned, there appeared to bo a better supply i n store to fulfil the 191S requirements, 'but there was every indication that the 1919 supply would have to be largely made lip from locally-produced seed.