CROPS AND SEEDS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 154, 26 March 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

CROPS AND SEEDS

Remarkable Perennial Rye Harvests Some quite remarkable returns from perreuial rye harvests have been received in both Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu. Iu one case a yield of 52 bushels of machinedressed seed an acre is reckoned upon. As this is “super” grade, it may possibly make over 20/- a bushel. The seed return would therefore be about equal to the value of good land. Another harvest of 40 acres, also of good class seed, is -estimated to return close upon £l6OO. The short' harvest of this season, coupled with a very strong demand, has lifted prices to a very high level. Certified mother seed is retailing at 19/- a bushel for pure samples of 80 P el ’ cent, or better germination. Certified P.P. sells nearly as dearly, and certified commercial is quoted up to 17/-.

Appreciation of certification is strikingly evidenced by the premium enjoyed by certified seeds. Uncertified seed can be bought at about half the price of certified commercial grade. I hear that big supplies of South Island seed have lately come north. A leading Wellington provincial firm advises that it has found the demand from the Waikato, King Country, Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay for pasture seed this autumn “absolutely abnormal.” _ The Manawatu demand had been restricted, because of dry weather. The firm, sees little possibility of seeds being available for export, with supplies rather short and New Zealand demand so strong. The situation, it stated, might indeed be described as one of shortage, find those who had harvested seeds would be well rewarded. They deserved to be for their courage in carrying on after the past two bad harvesting seasons. Rush For Fertilisers. The demand for some leading types of fertiliser is very green this autumn. The excellent sowing weather enabled topdressing to be continued almost without interruption. There is, too, a growing tendency to “put it on early,” a very sound plan. This year a new top-dressing record for New Zealand should be established. Wealth in' Onions. A seven-eighths of an acre, patch of onions on the Makerua Plains is reported to have yielded at the rate of 20 tons an acre. This old flax swamp, area is extremely fertile, and is a considerable producer of both onions and potatoes. Some 10 years ago the writer granted seven acres there to a market cropper. He grew one season 14 tons of onions an acre, and took £lOOO from his seven acres, rented at £3O a year. On current values, around £B/10/- to £9 a ton, a 20-ton crop returns £l7O or over an acre. This season the Manawatu has been perfect for onions. The “drought ’ actually increased yields, and provided splendid quality bulbs. A sample seen was of a new aud favoured type, the Pukekohe

Long Keeper. A heavy cropper, with a fine skin, this is ousting the Straw and the Brown Spanish, formerly favoured. The sample inspected was most attractive, with onions of medium size and good shop, with a fine, smooth, silky, brown skin. Seed-Wheat Inquiries. Theile has lately been a considerable inquiryq for seed-wheat from Rangitikei and-Hawke’s Bay. Those interested see a revival in North Island wheat-growing. Rangitikei interest is chiefly in certified Gumback from the Lincoln College strain. The cross 7 wheat, so favoured in the Wairarapa, has not here “caught on.” In one Rangitikei case, certified seed gave a bigger yielU by 20 bushels an acre than uncertified.