Trial Grounds for Dahlias

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 173, 25 July 1939, Page 5

Trial Grounds for Dahlias

AIASSEY COLLEGE HELPING Those growers who are keenly interested in hybridising the dahlia and raising new varieties should have every encouragement in this important work. The success overseas of several New Zealand-raised varieties is encouraging to those who have been engaged in this work and indicates that growers all over the world are ready to recognise our merits in this diiection and to purchase those varieties which are up to world standard, lu other countries varieties can obtain a hallmark from the governing bodies by wftming awards of merit and first-class certificates alter tests have been made under the strictest supervision by bodies whose impartiality is beyond question. These facilities have been lacking in New Zealand and. it is to repair this disadvantage that the executive of the New Zealand Dahlia Society has been giving atteutiun. It, has just concluded arrangements with the. Canterbury Agricultural College at I Lincoln and with Massey College at I’al- [ merston North to provide land lor trial grounds and for '.hose bodies to take over and entirely control the trial of all varieties sent to them for this purpose. The proposed trial ground at Lincoln, which is well sheltered and well cutivated, has been inspected by the executive which is of the opiuiou that it is admiraby suited for the purpose intended, while the same conditions exist at Massey. Expcrifccuts in tho control of diseases, control of mauuiing and other matters will be undertaken by the college authorities and the results made known to the society, which will in turn hand the information on for the benefit of members. The colleges will have full custody of all tubers or plants scut to them for testing and will arrange for the return of them to the owner after the tests are concluded or will destroy them ir it is the owner’s wish. It will thus be appreciated that fair and impartial treatment will be accorded all raisers and that no suspicion will ever arise that varieties will go out into other hands than the owners. Tho society will uppoiut selection committees whose duties it w ill be to inspect at regular intervals those plants under test and to issue a report upon them to the society with whom will rest tho authority ot issue awards of merit or other bouours to those deserving them. The members of the selection committee will not, until after the awards are made, know who has sent the plants for trial. Control plots, consisting of $ wellknown and proved varieties, will also be established, i'or the guidance of the selection committees in scoring the trial varieties. At times to be arranged with the college authorities tho grounds will bo open for inspection by member?.