AGRICULTURAL SEEDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1584, 1 April 1882, Page 6

AGRICULTURAL SEEDS.

No. IV.

The evil consequences resulting from the use of impure seeds are seriously aggravated in the case of the root crops usually and ' generally grown. The preparation of the land is more elaborate and costly, the after cultivation expensive, and the success or failure of the stock department of the farm economy mainly deuonds during a trying period of tho year on I tho results. Yet the indifference shown by our farmers as to the quality of tho seed is proverbial, and this season is almost everywhere observable in the growing green crops. . In many instances there are mixtures of quite a number of varieties, in others inferior sorts have been Bown, and again in numerous instances, crops apparently luxurious and promising heavy weights are found on close ex- i amination to be entirely ' tops,' and without any ' prospect of an average development of bulb. This latter is a very common occurrence in the turnip crop, andialmost invariably the consequence of inferior seed. We have had quite, recently a confirmation of this fact furnished us by a secretary of one of our leading agricultural societies ; himself a considerable turnip grower. A country storekeeper, sen<i an oriie'r } to (Glasgow for tumfo see'd,iand j 'the farmer* in' his' neighborhood 'knowing the j circumstances ' arid having 'confidence in- the Home firm'who'filled'the order; procured their supplies for ibis season from him; The crops from .this seed appear well ; to> the eye* but to use p,ur .informant's, words .they; are ,' all sphaws,' and the, consequences to^ho.farjners are very' grave. A lesser quantity of' stock j 'must, be held ion over winter,' or tiie' lisual j number must, be ' indifferently and, therefore . 'unprofitable fed. , ■',•',•-"• It is' almost certain that owii/g to! pur known ■carelessness in the matter of : seeds, as iri dther j of our' importations, we frequently 'have the"] refuse* of' other markets, j Our indifference tb.the subject, affords,, ft, .strong,^contrast to- the importance attached ( to $by ; the .fanners of the United Kingdom. "(At, "al| the winter , shows, ostensibly, for fat .stock,, the 'departments for* root's, seeds,' <Sc., are regarded as 'eqjually im1 portant arid strdrigly patronised.' ' Iti 1 England the various societies offer numerous and valuable prizes, and these.the Rdyal 1 .'supplement.' ,The leading .firms in the seed trade have stands, and further'offer prizes fpr rqots and produce grown from their specialties. Some of- the more spirited contribute largely to the 'open' 1 prizes.' A most wonderful rivalry, skill,- and enterprise are thereby fostered, and hence the j farmers in the Mother Country have the advantages of superior seeds brought prominently to their notice, and they can procure them from the growers at a moderate price and unadulterated. Here we may be justly said to be in almost complete ignorance of the value's or varieties of the commonest root crops, such as Swedish turnips and mangel-wurzel. Looking over the awards for roots at the Birmingham Winter Show of Stock, &c, we find over thirty varieties of mangels were exhibited in three classes— Globe, intermediate, and long; turnips were classed as Swedes, any.other, variety, white -fleshed, and yellow-fleshed., In both mangels and turnips ' size, symmetry, and quality 'were essentials. The best exhibit of Swedish turnips was of tho variety known as Webb's, and of it . the' Mark Lane Express writes :— ' Webb's Imperial Swede — winner of the first prize in 'the open class .for 'nine years in succession — is, of course shown in strong. force.' Now. this must 'be a very valuable variety of Swede; ,and would doubtless prove a great acquisition here, but it is literally unknown tb our cultivators. For the best collection of Swedes and mangolds, Mr Perry, a farmer, carried ' off the cup prize, and the mangels were grown from seed raised be the exhibitor. In the separate classes for mangels, the following varieties obtained special commendation ;— Berks prize 1 yellow globe, Sutton's oxheart, Sutton's yellow, j intermediate, and Webb's long mangel. We notice the turnip and mangel roots especially, because our farmers and stockowners have an immediate interest in tho subject, and may, at a trifling cost of money and trouble, procure small parcels of the best sorts to begin with and give a trial here. A post parcel would bo quite sufficient for a small farmer in the first instance, and would cover a considerable variety. Each sort should be procured from the firm, which has grown and established its reputation, and when sending the order, the purpose in doing so should be distinctly stated. It is tb be hoped that many of our farmers will take ■kindly to and carry out 'the suggestion. A vast amount of good would be conferred in the different localities— those engaging in. the experiment* would be repaid by the interest

excited, and 1 a profitable return could be realised by the careful selection and growing seed from the best roots. Farmers as yet are unaware of the fertile source of profit and information they may open up by investing a few shillings and writing a letter to some leading seed firm in England or elsewhere. Why, even our amateur gardeners around Dunedin are constantly in the habit of sending for flower seeds. Perhaps some tasteful farmers have procured their garden stocks in the same way ; yet it has not occurred to them to send for samples of desirable agricultural seeds, so that they might have them pure and test their value. There is no magnitude or intricacy in the proceeding. Commencing in a small way, a farmer would soon acquire a knowledge of and tasto for seed-growing, and pure agricultural seeds, in all their varieties, and of the most approved kinds, would soon be the rule instead of the exception.

It must be almost self-evident that the winter exhibitions of seeds and roots in connection with the stock shows materially contribute towards developing the improvements noticeable in the varieties of field crops grown in the United Kingdom. It will be remembered that discussing the subject of agricultural shows recently we urged on the Otago Society the necessity of inaugurating a produce show where farmers could bring under the notice of their brethren choice samples of cereals, seeds, and roots, and thereby reap the benefits of commendable enterprise, 1 at the same time setting a valuable example for adoption. We have reason to know that the matter has been and is regarded by many fanners as an indispensable duty of the loading society, for it is centended, and justly so, that district societies cannot promote tho affair to a success. Surely there are practical members of the central association with sufficient energy and a knowledge of the advantages from an educational point of view as will secure the undertaking a prominent placo in their programmme.

In conclusion, we havo to repeat- our advice to farmers : Make a beginning in seed-growing ; even for green crop seeds there is a ready market here. We know of more than one firm who would gladly purchase turnip seeds if grown from bulbs approved of by them and saved properly. That seed-farms will soon take their; place with other branches of agricultural industry in New Zealand is but a question of a very short period, once an" experience of \ the profits derivable from the business has been obtained. ,