GARDEN SEEDS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 4

GARDEN SEEDS

Some Kinds Of Flowers May Be Scarce SUPPLIES FOR VEGETABLES Shortages of some of the most popular flower seeds are likely next spring in New Zealand, a Wellington wholesale seedsman states. Seeds of salvia bonfire, phlox, neniesia, pansy, itolyantlius, viola and verbena are among them. ’ Tlie reason why a shortage is expected is the cessation of supplies from overseas, tlie war having caused a change in Hie directions of the world seed trade, and two unfavourable seasons for seed growing in the United States of America have aggravated the trouble. Vegetable seed supplies have been affected just as seriously as flower-seed supplies, but the systematic production of vegetable seeds in New Zealand and control of export has prevented any fears of shortages of them.

Vegetable seeds are by far the more important division of the garden seed trade, and a .steady supply of them is essential to human sustenance. The shortage of onions in England, which was so serious that onions were put on display by wits as curiosities, was caused by lack of seed. This season 30,000 pounds of onion seed are to be sent to Britain, which, though it will be only 214 bags and will occupy little cargo space, will be enough to sow 10,000 acres and produce 100,000 tons of onions.

Though vegetable seed growing is not a new industry in New Zealand the war has caused it to expand greatly. England used to be supplied partly from the Continent of Europe, but the war closed that source and the United States have been unable to supply the deficiency, so that the demand for seeds from New Zealand has increased. The warm, dry parts of New Zealand—Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury and Central Otago—are particularly suitable to seed production, and. New Zealand, "The Dominion’s” informant stated, had a good reputation overseas and satisfied the highly critical English gardeners. The office, and warehouse of one of the two largest seed merchants in New Zealand are in Wellington, and at present its plant Is working two shifts a day, preparing seeds for export and for New Zealand’s own use. At the moment peas are going through the machines, ingenious devices which take out foreign seeds and dirt, even if the dirt is the size and weight of a seed. Girls sitting in a row under daylight blue electric lights pick out peas that have reverted to an inferior type and sprouted peas as they move past on belts. Seeds that contain too much moisture are dehydrated in a special room.