GRASS SEED INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 12 April 1929, Page 9

GRASS SEED INDUSTRY.

RESULTS OF EXPERIMENT. IMPORTANT PRONOUNCEMENTS MADE. (By Telegraph—Prrbs Assou-iatiou.) PALMERSTON N., April 11. Experiments that may revolutionise the grass seed industry in New Zealand and play a remendously important part in the building up of production in the Dominion were disclosed to farmers during a field day at the plant research station to-day by Mr. E. Bruce Levy. Summarised, the announcements which created an impression were: Firstly, New Zealand would very probably have to scrap its present red clover and introduce a different variety which will give infinitely better returns; secondly, that Hawke’s Bar was the only district in New Zealand which could' bo relied _ upon for ryegruss —the true perennial rye —the socalled perennial ryes from Southland and Canterbury being not much better than Italian ryes; thirdly, imported white clovers were not lasting in pastures more than a year or two, whereas New Zealand-grown white clover was permanent. These pronouncements are of importance to the farming industry. They niav tneari, for instance, that thousands of pounds flint have been sent out of the country each year for white clover seed will now be spent in the

Dominion; that by getting true perennial rye seed instead of so-called perennials that are really only Italian, permanency of pastures can be more readily maintained with an attendant increase in production. The matter of replacing red clover would be a stupendous task, but, according to Mr. Levy, one well worth while.

Out of 104 plots of alleged perennial rve seed obtained from all over New Zealand, 28 only had true perennial characteristics, the rest being Italian or hybrids. Twenty-one Hawke’s Bay lots yielded 15 perennials; 12 Sandon ryes yielded two true perennials; 30 lots from North and Mid-Canterbury yielded three only true to type, while not one sample from Squth Canterbury was true. Of a line of 4.0 lots from Southland not one had come true. Of three from Marlborough only one came true. The farmers present inspected the plots, which are like a draught hoard, the Hawke’s Bay rye showing considerable autumn growth and thick swards, whereas the other ryes were short and sparse. AN OBJECTION FROM POVERTY BAY. GISBORNE. April 12. In reference to Mr. Bruce Levy’s statement that Hawke’s Bay is the only district able to produce true perrennial rye grass seed, it was stated that Poverty Bay seed, which was alwavs regarded as the best obtainable and lias commanded the highest price, was not included in the tests at Palmerston. Loral growers contend that Mr. Levy’s statement in this respect is misleading and detrimental to the local product.