COCKSFOOT IMPROVEMENT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 8

COCKSFOOT IMPROVEMENT.

WORK AT LINCOLN COLLEGE,

The work of the improvement of cocksfoot that has been so striking a development, of the kk.at Lincoln College,fqr the past few years is to be considerably extended during the current season. The best strains of cocksfoot growing on the various classes of land in North Canterbury were selected about two years ago, so that the Collego plots now include prolific strains suitable for medium wheat land, for high country, for limestone faces, and for light shingly plains. These are now in process of being selected and multiplied and the appearance of the work is so promising that Cabinet has agreed to recommend that the sum of £SOO a year be voted for its prosecution. At the last meeting of the College Board of Governors it was decided that the work should be made to embrace the "whole of the South Island, .and .that the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations of the various districts should be asked to indicate the • different classes of country in which the improvement of cocksfoot would be of special value. One of the plant breeders from the College will then visit the locality to make selections (rom the strains that, are found to thrive best under the special conditions, and will proceed to grow, reselect, and multiply the strains that seem most desirable. Some of the work will have to be done under the conditions of climate and soil in which the plants are ultimately to grow, but most of it will be done at Lincoln, where the difficult and laborious task of producing pure seed of the selected strains will be under the constant care of the plant breeders.