Norfolk Crop

Trials Fail

Experiments with plantings of ginger, onions and cucumber on Norfolk Islands have failed be cause of weeds, a local pest, root knot eelworm, and a lack of water in summer. A Sydney and Norfolk company, Export Crops, had hoped to export ginger, onions and cucumber seeds. It began planting ginger last August and planted onions and cucumbers this year.

Results showed that success with these and similar crops on Norfolk was only possible in a limited season and on a “per sonal farming basis,” Mr. Ralph Lewis, managing director of the company, said. Big investments in machinery and wages were therefore not warranted and plans were abandoned.

The onions gave excellent germinations of Early Lockyer varieties, but fields were quickly overrun by nut-grass, which was too costly to contrui.