D.F.U. Seeking For Pure Seeds Bill

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7412, 20 December 1930, Page 9

D.F.U. Seeking For Pure Seeds Bill

DIFFICULTY IN TYPE REVERSION The Minister of Agriculture (Hon. A. J. Murdoch) advised the executive of the Dairy Farmers’ Union on Thursday, that at this stage he was unable to give a definite assurance that a Pure Seeds Bill would bo introduced next session, as tho question of the introduction of legislation was ono for determination by Cabinet. The Union could rest assured that the necessity for' such a bill was fully appreciated and as soon as a suitable opportunity presented itself after tho return of the Primo Minister, ho would take tho opportunity of discussing tho matter of its introduction with his colleagues. Mr N. It. Foy, seed aualyist of the Department, wroto on tho samo matter, stating that members of tho executive apparently were not clear as to what was covered by legislation of this nature. A Pure Seeds Act would require all seeds sold to conform to certain standards of quality iu so far as purity and germination was concerned. The term “purity” referred to tho analytical purity, that is, tho percentage by weight of seed botanically truo. to I •rr.me of the species under consideration, and had no reference to “purity” of strain or trueness to typo of that particular seed. For instance, a line of superlativo swede might have a purity of 99 per cent., but this would be no indication that the seed would produce 99 per cent, of roots true, to the, superlative type, The same applied 1 equally to ryegrass. Two lines, one true perennial and another of an inferior strain, could both' carry a purity -of 9S per' cent., yet' the ' produce in terms of true perennial plants-whuld be 'in widely different, proportions. With ryegrass, of course, the purchaser had. recourso to certified seed which had been harvested from plants of approved type, and where tho risk of his obtaining plants of an inferior type is reduced to a minimum. Nevertheless tho purity stated on the certificate of analysis refers to the analytical purity and not to the purity of the strain. In roots particularly, there is always the possibility of reversion to inferior types and no merchant would undertake the sale of root seeds were he compelled under the Act to guarruntee tho percentage which would come true to type. The uncertainty of produce from seed was one of tho main reasons why every seed merchant protected himself with the “non-warranty clause,” tho use of which was world wide. Much could be said in favour of pure seeds legislation but it should be borne in mind that this has nothing to do with tho inherent character of tho seeds. Mr W. G. Short said the only solution seemed to be seed certification and an extension of the system should be sought.