AGRICULTURAL SEEDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8362, 24 February 1913, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SEEDS

LOCAL AND FOREIGN CROPS. In the course of their annual agricultural seed report,for the season lal-s----13. a well-known English firm gives some interesting, information as regards English and foreign crops, and the comparison. with New Zealand yields given below should prove vain* able reading to the farming community as a Whole. , ~. ' , Referring to white clover the report states that a short crop following on a short crop last year made prices high; little had been bought, and, as many districts must have white clover, it was expected that prices would hold, especially for the finer qualities. America had taken a considerable quantity from Europe. In the South Island (N.Z.) a large quantity is expected. Perennial rye crops, the report states, turned out better this year than was expected considering the wet weather. The yield was rather less than last year, but a considerable quantity Of last year’s crop was carried over—in Hawke’s Bay the crops of this grass are short, but the quality is good. Respecting Italian rye, tho French crops averaged fair, with good quality considering the weather. The Irish crop was also a fair one, the quality being good and useful. In England there was a small crop of good quality.—Sandon rye promises to be of excellent quality, but there is only about one-half of last year’s crop, Canterbury seed is very light. The report also states that there, was a larger acreage of Weeterwold rye saved for seed this year, but owing to tho increased demand the majority had already found its way into the hands of consumers, many of whom could not meet the demand in previous seasons.—There is a fair crop of this grass in Canterbury, but very little local seed. As regards cocksfoot, Denmark has again raised a good crop, although of somewhat lighter bushel weight than last year. Germany produced a fair crop, ■of good quality. Hollan’d, a smau crop of good quality.—ln New Zealand there is a big yield in both tho North and South Islands. A large crop of ohewings fescue is now being harvested in ' tho South Island, while a good crop of varying germinative capacity is reported from abroad. Tho report of a long way Better average crop of meadow foxtail holds good for New Zealand as well as foreign lands. After last year’s debacle very little crested dogstail was sown in New Zealand, and it is rather soon yet to give any idea of the nature of the crop. Abroad there , was a fair crop, the quality being somewhat weather stained. It is also reported that last year England produced almost a record crop of fine quality red clover, whilst this year only a small crop of medium quality. White clover, dear last year, Was still higher this. Alsyke was dearer than it bad been for many years, and trefoil again commanded comparatively high, prices. Turning to grasses greater changes from last year were to be found, meadow fescue being about 100 s par pent, loss -money, roa pratensis about 80s less, timothy from 50s to 60s less and florin 40s to 50s less. It has been a mqst_ difficult season for those who specialise in clovers and grasses.