PLANT BREEDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21253, 5 August 1932, Page 5

PLANT BREEDING

WORK AT ABERYSTWYTH IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS SEED FROM NEW ZEALAND [from our, own correspondent] LONDON, June 30 Particulars of tho work at the Plant Breeding Station at .Aberystwyth are given in th% annual report of tho Empire Marketing Board. During 1931 approximately 30 acres of pedigree grasses were harvested for seed and 20 additional acres were sown with a view to testing the suitability of various districts for seed production of grasses. Demonstration plots of cocksfoot and timothy woro established in order to draw the attention of farmers to the method of growing pedigree grasses in drills for seed production, while 14 strains of pedigree red clovers were grown for seed in 1931. These were in the first stage of grow-ing-on. Scope of the Work Investigations have been conducted into (a) the effect of various manures on the production of seed in the case of a number of strains of pedigree grasses; (b) the effect of time of application of manures on seed production; (c) the management of grasses for seed production; (d) tho possibility of autumn sowings of grasses for seed production; (o) rate of sowing; and (f) the effect of harvesting at various stages of ripeness on the quality of the seed. Up to the present, practically all the seed of the pedigree strains harvested in Montgomeryshire and elsewhere has been used for experimental sward trials. Over 200 acres have been sown in experiments of this sort. It is interesting to record that excellent roports on the behaviour of the pedigree cocksfoot have been received from the highlands of Natal. Arrangements are now under discussion with the Seed Trade Association of the United Kingdom for tho growing-on and distribution of some of the most valuable of tho strains so far produced by tho station. New Zealand Strains "As the result of the station's close contact with oversea workers," says tho report, "a largo number of strains are received every year for growing-on and for critical report. Mr. William Davies (whose appointment as Empire grassland officer was made possible by a grant from the Empire Marketing fund) brought back from New Zealand a number of strains of perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot and the results obtained from these have tended to confirm the interesting conclusions of Mr. Bruce Levy and Mr. Davies as to the great differences that exist between the Hawke's Bay and Canterbury perennial ryegrass. "In all 22 reports, covering some 200 samples, were sent out during, the year. This is a service that is much appreciated both at home and overseas. •It also provides the station with valuable and interesting plant material." The report mentions the marked advances in a number of directions which have characterised the activities of the Plant Research Station at Palmerston North.