SELLING GRASS SEED TRUE TO DESCRIPTION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 10

SELLING GRASS SEED TRUE TO DESCRIPTION

Department to Start Certification Scheme SEQUEL TO RESEARCH WORK The Department of Agriculture, through the agency of the research work of Air. E. B. Levy, (agrostologist), proposes inaugurating during the 1929-30 season a scheme of certification for grass and clover seeds. According to a circular sent out to seed merchants throughout the Dominion, trials recently conducted by E. B. Levy (agrostoiogist) have proved that trade descriptions arc frequently misleading as an indication of the type of plant or pasture likely to result from tho sowing of that seed. For example, much of the perennial rye and Western Wolths rye, it is claimed, is partly, or wholly, Italian. Certain of the brown top pastures are of a desirable, and others of an undesirable type, and a similar position exists in regard to red and white clovers. This being the case, it must be very evident that a merchant who is’ r.ot aware of the true nature of the seed he is handling is not in a position to give reliable advice to his clients, and therefore the farmer must frequently suffer as a result of sowing seed, not suited to his requirements. The position also affects the export trade, which might be better stimulated were it possible for the overseas buyer to place more reliance on the categorisation of tho lots shipped from New Zealand.

It would seem that the registration of areas will be necessary in the initial stages, and later it may be found that these areas can be grouped, and that a particular type will cover a largo tract of country as may be the case with Akaroa cocksfoot. This would simplify registration. Two means of determining the type of plant are available: (1) Inspection of the area from which seed is to be harvested: (2) Carefully observed field plot trials sown with seed obtained from each area. Inspection of areas •would be tho simpler means of identification if one had sufficient knowledge and experience, but until such is available it, would seem essential to coordinate field inspections with plot trials. Conclusions arrived at from tho observations! of plot trials would not be available for some months after harvest, so that it becomes essential to sow these one year ahead of certification. It will be necessary to collect samples from tho 1928-29 harvest for the results to be of assistance to certification in the 1929-1930 season.

It is not possible to say just now how wide a field can be covered by certification next season, but an endeavour will be made to deal with white clover, perennial rye, and brown top, and samples of these would be of particular value. Eventually no doubt red clover and cocksfoot will be inducted, although they are unlikely to have any bearing on the operations of the 1929-30 season. In' each case it should bo possible to trace the exact origin of the seed.