COCKSFOOT SEED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 4

COCKSFOOT SEED.

NEW ZEALAND OR DANISH. WHICH IS THE BETTER? The application made by the Canterbury fanners that a duty of one penny per pound should be imposed on the imported cocksfoot lias raised a heated controversy oil the respective merits of Akaroa and Danish seed. Auckland merchants object to the imposition of the duty asked for and they also protest emphatically against the assertion of Canterbury delegates to the Ministerial deputation that Danish seed is inferior to Akaroa and that deterioration of laad in the Auckland province had resulted from its use. In a Jotter to the Minister of Agriculture the Auckland Seed Merchants pointed out that whereas Canterbury growers once had the world's market for cocksfoot, they had neglected it in favour of other production, thus allowing the sales of Danish cocksfoot to steadily increase. Thus in 1911, 41,918 acres were devoted to cocksfoot and in 1326 only 9745. The harvest in 1919 from 19,318 acres was 1680 tons, in 1920, from 9745 acres, it was only #17 tons.

On the question of the respective qualities of Akaroa, and Danish seed, Mr. (J. H. Hewlett, managing director of the Canterbury Seed Co., Christchnreh, admits that as far as seed production goes the Danish plant will give twice or three times as much, and better-looking seed, but he alleges that when it comes to fodder production, the peninsula seed leaves the Danish far behind."

Air. Hewlett stated that his company had made a trial of Danish seed on its experimental farm and had ploughed it in as useless. "Akaroa seed is the second best in the world," said Mr. Hewlett. "The best comes from Wales, and it is tiiought that the Akaroa seed originally came from there."

I can definitely state that Danish varieties of cocksfoot are grown more for sped purposes than fodder." said Mr. K. E. Alexander, director of the Canterbury Agricultural College. "Our experiments here have shown this definitely. The argument put up by the Auckland people about higher germination does not enter into the case. The Akaroa seed is a pure grazing strain and the Danish is entirely tor seed, and not as suitable. There is no argument in saying that the germination is higher. Weeds often have a higher germination than good plants, but that does not increase their value." While he was in Sweden, said Mr. Alexander, he was told definitely that Denmark imported the seed for her pastures. The Danes themselves deny this, but it was stated that most of the seed sown in Danish pastures came from Germany and a 1 ittle from New Zealand. In the letter to the Minister the Auckland Association deals with this aspect in the following terms:—"Farmers in the Auckland district have many thousands of acres wherein this Danish cocksfoot is I wing grazed under natural conditions, and many have reported that it is producing ioruge lasting well and as good as any cocksfoot seed. The importation sighted above for 1025, viz.. 505 tons, would at an average ot sowing 101b cocksfoot seed per acre, be sufficient for sowing 113.030 acres. Surely the evidence from the farmers who arc sowing the seed in this manner and glazing under natural paature conditions should bo of far greater value than the fewseeds that have been grown in experimental plots at Lincoln College. Surely this in itself is sufficient evidence that the Danish cocksfoot is supeiror, otherwise the farmers would certainly not continue sownig it increasingly year after year. While u the Canterbury cocksfoot was so superior there would be a world demand for same, instead of decreasing as it luir at the rate as before instanced. We fear the reports of Professor Hilgendorf have been misconstrued to convey a wrong impression, as Professor Hilgendorf has not .seen the Danish cocksfoot growing under natural conditions in Auckland district, and admits that on account of the heavy lainlall in Auckland and its similar climate to that of Denmark, the results would probably be more favourable and inuch different in a drier district like t anterbury.

In reference to the statement that i lie deteriorated Jnncl in the North wlunrl Ik one result of the use of Danish cocksfoot. these lands were m>wii with Akftroa cocksfoot need, as at that time there was no Danish need imported, as you can prove from the import records.