SCHOOLS' INITIATIVE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 8

SCHOOLS' INITIATIVE

CROPS GROWN FOR SEED If it were not too late and if selected roots could be obtained it should be possible for some of the schools in coastal districts of Taranaki where summer rainfall was not too high to do something towards the provision of root crop, seeds for their own district, stated Mr. J. M. Hopkins, of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture, at New Plymouth in t commenting upon the offer of primary schools to grow such crops for seed. Mr. Hopkins suggested to the North Taranaki Council of Primary Production last night that Holmes Improved and Barribal carrots and Prizewinner and Yellow Globe rfiangolds were suitable for the purpose. He considered some schools could serve a useful purpose by growing sugar beet crops for seed. It was absolutely essential, he added, that any plot used for seed growing should be isolated up to half a mile from any flowering plants of the same species. He offered to assist the movement. which was instituted by Mr. Rod Syme, agricultural instructor to the Taranaki Education Board, and to select the roots as they were required. Mr. L. A. Alexander, Tikorangi, said he had on his farm about a quarter of an acre of Holmes Improved carrots eminently suitable for seeding purposes. He had already supplied a certain quantity to South Taranaki and estimated that he would have sufficient to supply North Taranaki schools provided a selection was made at once. The offer is to be handed on to the Taranaki Education Board.