SCOPE FOR EXPORT

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13138, 12 September 1940, Page 6

SCOPE FOR EXPORT

CERTIFIED GRASS SEED

There is considerable scope for an increase in the areas of the various grass and clover seeds harvested in New Zealand, not only for use within New Zealand, but also for export. Because of war conditions, British supplies of seed which were previously obtained from the Continent of Europe have now been cut off. Accordingly it is the duty of New Zealand farmers to supply quantities of seed for the British market.

Especially is there a need for seed certified under the scheme of the Department of Agriculture. Actually, despite thh well recognised superior value of the swards resulting from the use of certified seed, on a substantial part pf the acreage annually sown to “permanent” pastures seed of the poor or uncertain type ineligible for certification is used. Farmers with areas eligible under the certification schemes, therefore, should make every endeavour to shut up as big an area as possible for seed production this season. The main species calling for attention are perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, white clover and red cloven;

The Gisborne district has been asked to provide 2000 acres of grass seed during the coming season. Most of this will be perennial ryegrass, with smaller areas of white clover and Montgomery red clover. The North Island quotas of grass seed are 15,000 acres of certified ryegrass seed, 100,000 bushels of commercial ryegrass seed, and 100,0001 b. of white clover seed.