THE RYE-SEED HARVEST

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 72, 17 December 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE RYE-SEED HARVEST

Greater Area Certified

FREE GERMINATION TESTS

Very considerably-increased ureas of perenntiai rye have been entered for certification this season. as compared witu last season. The figures are as follows, last season's areas being given in paren theses:-

Acres. Hawke's Bay 4000 (30001 Poverty Bay 13;>9 ( 831) Maaawatu B’.Od ( 4i3) Wairarapa 48 ( 4.)) Total 0737 4353

South Island figures are not yet in. but are expeeted to be good. Apart from certified areas, there will be considerably greater acreages harvested for "commercial” seed, and there is no knowing how these will aggregate until after harvesting. The wonderfully-generous pasture growth of the past six weeks should tend to provide a big area of seed. I hear of one Manawatu grazier who contemplates stripping 500 acres for ■•commercial' seed. Harvesting will soon be started, as a contractor informs me that he is due at one farm on December 27. Germination Tested Free.

On visiting the seed-testing station in Palmerston North this week, I learned of a valuable service given free to seedgrowers. As an example, here is an actual case. A Kairanga farmer had worked out bis costs and decided that rye would be worth saving, on reasonable expectation. But memories of 1936-37 low germinations frightened him. Much seed saved that season was below 50 per cent, sound, and some went as low as 20 and 30 per cent, germination. It was better to make hay of a crop than save that type of seed. 'Samples of the green heads were, therefore, sent in to the station for a preliminary test. Little sheaves of perhaps 100 to 150 heads were made up. A number of seeds from these were placed under the microscope and examined for the infection that causes loss ot germination. The nature of this infection is a story for another time. It is, however, a very great enemy to growers of rye seed. By this preliminary examination the station is able to advise farmers, approximately, as to the germination they may expect. With this information given, a grower can decide, whether his crop is itorth saving. He is thus saved the severe loss of harvesting “dud” seed. This is a really valuable service, freely given, and one to be much appreciated. Pasture Seeds Export. Elglish farm papers recently to hand indicate possibilities of a useful export trade to Britain in New Zealand clover and grass seeds. Reports give the market for October, which month is equivalent to our April. Early samples were then coming to hand, and London reports speak of email acreages, with high prices in prospect for all clovers. For ryegrass a. good demand was expected, and prices were firmer. There would, therefore, appear good possibilities of this season’s New Zealand seeds arriving Home to meet early autumn sowings. A good deal of pasture rejuvenation is being carried out in Britain these days, and this may be general for many years to come. . The exchange should pay freight and leave about Id. over on most seeds shipped Home from New Zealand.