PEDIGREE RYE GRASS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 19

PEDIGREE RYE GRASS.

POVERTY BAY SEED. work oFresearch. IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS.

BY C.T.

Considerable interest is evinced in the Dominion generally, regarding the initial tests of the pedigree rye grass scheme as instituted by the Department of Agriculture. In July last, Messrs. E. B. Lovy, and ,\V. Davis, of tho Plant Research Station, at Pajmerston North, published an article on the subject of improving commercial perennial ryo grass seed. They proved conclusively that tho short time growth of Italian ryegrass seed was greatly in evidence to tho detriment ol the use of tho pure type of ryo grass seed marketed in the Dominion. They claimed that tho Hawke's Bay pastures wore particularly fortunate in that a good perennial typo of ryo grass was first introduced into that Province and had since then fairly held its own. This strain, the scientific writers said, was probably the equal of any other strain of rye grass seed in the world. Not all the perennial rye grass seed grown in Hawko's Bay was of the true type, but that which was pure, could easily be identified, and as " mother-seed"—the term reveals all its possibilities—could bo produced at a relatively small cost. This season, tho schcmo that the Department has formulated is being put to the test. It provides for tho certification of all pure ryo grass, as is now grown in Hawke's Bay and other places. In Hawke's Bay, 74 farmers have shut up their paddocks for the production of pedigreo seed. Some 2094 acres are thus occupied. In Poverty Bay eight farmers have 293 acres under inspection and at Sandon. one man has sixteen acres. True Rye Grass Paddocks. Tho idea ol this is to assure the accurate distribution of pure grass seed of superior strain and in every way to stimulate the wider use and the greater production of tins strain of seed. The farmer's paddock is tho unit of tho scheme. It is numbered, the produce from it is sacked and branded and sealed, so that there shall be no interference'with tho contents, and is later certified to as " mother seed," fit for special breeding purposes, or tagged as fit foi permanent first pasture seed, for pasture sowing as to purity and germination. The modus operandi begins with the farmer applying for the registration of his proposed seed area. The history of the field is then studied by the inspectors. It must have been live years in pasturo if it is to be reserved for trial as for " mother seed." It is most closely inspected before the field is registered. Samples of the grass in tho flowering stage are taken —40, at least, from each paddock—and these are also carefully inspected. Then, the field being passed, the farmer gives the Department notice of shutting up the paddock and waiting the time of harvest. These fields must have been passed by the Plant Research Officer during the field inspection, us permanent pasture areas until harvest. January, the harvest month, provides the testing of the scheme. Indeed, it is the first real great test, and great interest is taken in it. The Fields Division, at Hastings, is working at high pressure to overtake the work that the grass harvest has thrust upon its staff. There are 14 seed-threshing mills m the district working mill hours. Each of these has to be visited, sometimes several times a day where it is possible. The inspector took the writer out to see a bit of the work being dono at Mr. W. Thomson's farm at Paki Paki. What happened there is but the story of what happens at each of the 14 threshing mills, sometimes several times a day.

Registering Types of Seed

There were some 25 bags of seed taken from the mill, just as they were threshed. The inspector brands each of these bags as follows: H. 8., 91H., P.P. The middle number is the field number, with a distinguishing letter. Of course, every other registered field uses its own number and letter. Each bag is then securely sealed with the red seal Then a " tester" is inserted into each sack and samples are taken most carefully and collected in a stout seed envelope addressed to the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North.

The " sample" bag has its history apart from that of the 25 sacks from which it is taken.' Its contents are cleaned in the Plant Research Station, this "true" rye grass is sown and the results carefully tabulated. Thus, perhaps, from this Paki Paki farm, a new strain of rye grass seed

If/'the contents is a mother-seed" type or for permanent pasture, it is to bo tagged accordingly. The main difference between the former and permanent pasture is that the luuvest progeny tif the mother seed is eligible for certification, subject to full and further inspection. The product for a permanent pasture i 3 not certified to but a tag is issued, stating its qualifications to be sown down for that purpose The true perennial or " mother seed" is subjected to the most exhaustive tests. Every detail in connection with it is carefully studied It has to be of a special class, for from it are to spring the pure generations of the perennial rye grass seed for years to come.

Origin of Poverty Bay Eye Grass

The seed is sold. But that act does not sever the relationship between the Department and the seeds concerning which it is so vitally interested lhe Department follow up the seed and. perhaps on some fresh-ploughed field, or some hush burn, they will watch the seed they have selected in its early progress gerininato and grow, and then they will bo able to judge of tit? result of their labours.

i hear one say, " What u pother about some tiny seed—only the seed of a common grass."

Somp 50 years ago, a brand ot rye grass seed", termed "Pacey's" was imported and used in Hawke's Bay. It was the true perennial rye grass, it held lor Years in the ground. Then came the Italian, with a life of some two years, and fields sown down for a permanancy had to be rc.ploughed and resown But the older ryegrass lias held its own, and now men with vision have recognised (Jig value of the true type and what that means to the whole pastoral community of the Dominion. Poverty Bay rye-grass is to become as famous a brand as Canterbury Lamb. That is what all this pother means. Th e selection and breeding ol grass is like the breeding of stock. It creates a higher standard. The farmers will benefit if they grow it. from the demand that will arise for it. They will know, by sowing it, they will enhance the productivity of their lands and save much money that has been spet|t on seeds that failed to last. Tim Department is working hard at the scheme 5 again it must be remembered, this is only the first year of the tests. The officers are giving their time and brains, for the good of the farmer, and all they ask is the co-operation of the agricultural community.