CHICOEY GROWING.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3791, 21 February 1881, Page 3

CHICOEY GROWING.

Mr Benjamin Dawson, the proprietor of the Bichnjpnd Hill Nursery, informs us ,- k ■•"■(" Oamaru Mail ") that he has put in an .experimental crop of chicory this year. The area covered is two and a half acres, and although, the hares have played sad havoc,With.i'C.he expects to realise, a twothirds crop, or nine tons per acre. The whole crop has been bespoken at £5 per ton, so that his gross return per acre will ' be £45. It appears that there is a ready market for chicory, not only in this colony, but in the Australian colonies. For many years Messrs Trent Bros., of Christchurch, hive endeavoured to meet . the local demand, and have exported largely, to Australia, where the plant will not grow. ! Yet the roasted root is still imported to these parts from the Old Country under an import duty of 3d per lb. This is the f , direction in. whicii/ "'ir/ farmers might '..supplement their ineb'mes without much trouble or expense. There is a good ..-: market throughout the Australian colonies :forithis commodity. These colonies have V«ti-present to; draw the bulk of their "''"■ applies from Home. It has thus been -■'seen 1 'that this. industry, which was so ; mijEiy years ago started by Messrs Trent 1 Bros., is capable of considerable extension. '{^A Dufiejdin firm which deals largely in 'chicory has lately been compelled, after ; appealing,unsuccessfully to the farmers to '.'!.''try;'ihe.experiment, of laying down small "areas in that plant, to start a farm for its exclusive growth. Balcluthais the locality ■ ,in which they have commenced operations, 1 and, judging from the information to hand and;'the experience of Messrs Trent ; Brothers; Mr Dawson and others, we ■ think, may reckon upon a handsome return for-their outlay.