GRASS SEED INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20228, 12 April 1929, Page 12

GRASS SEED INDUSTRY.

IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS.

RESULTS AT RESEARCH STATION

[BY TELEGRAM.' —press association.]

PALMERSTON NORTH, Thursday.

Experiments that will revolutionise the grass seed industry in New Zealand and play a very important part in building up 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 his announcements were, firstly, that 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 Bay was the only district in New Zealand which could be relied upon for ryegrass, that true perennial, the so-called perennial ryes from Southland and Canterbury being not much better than Italian ryes. Thirdly, that imported white clovers were not lasting in pastures more than a year or two. whereas New Zealand-grown white clover was permanent.

These pronouncements aro of tremendous importance to the farming industry. They will mean, for instance, that whereas thousands of pounds have been sent out of the country each year for white clover seed, the money will now be spent in the Dominion, that by getting true perennial rye seed, permanency of pastures can be more readily maintained, with attendant increase in production. The matter of replacing red clover will be a stupendous task, but according to Mr. Levy will be well worth while. Out of 104 plots of socalled perennial rye seed obtained from all over New Zealand 28 only bad the true perennial characteristics, the rest being Italian or hybrids. Twenty-two Hawke's Bay lots yielded 15 perennials; 12 Sandon ryes yielded two true perennials; 30 lots from North and ILid-Canterbury yielded three only true to type; of 40 lots: from Southland, not one had come true; of three from Marlborough, only one came true.

Farmers present inspected the plots, which were like a draughts board, Hawke's Bay rye showing considerable autumn growth and thick swards, whereas other ryes were short and sparse.