SEED-SAVING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 10

SEED-SAVING.

It is not at all unlikely as one result of war conditions that the saving of farm seeds and vegetable and garden seeds will become more or less necessary in the near future. Why import them in any case? The climate and soils of Central Otago, for instance, are particularly well suited for growing and ripening many of the commonly-used farm seeds. It seems rather absurd that at this date we should

have to send Home for such seeds as turnips, cabbage, or mangold. It is, of course, necessary to know something about the nature of the growth of the crops in question—whether the plants require one or two seasons to produce seed from seed planted, whether they are annuals, biennials, or perennials. There is a lot, too, in heredity, and it is as well to realise that it is quite as necessary to have as good a parentage in producing seeds as it is with stock. In other words, it would be madness for a grower to save seed from a miserable-looking specimen of a turnip or cabbage, or any other farm plant, and expect to grow weighty crops of typical turnips or cabbages, as the case m ay(J*e. The characteristics which have appealed to the grower in the turnip, cabbage, or mangold must prevail in the plant which is set out in the paddock to grow and produce seed. Selecting, for instance, the best specimens typical of the swede or mangold plant (these particular crops are biennial, and take two years or seasons to produce seed), they are carried through the winter and planted out in the spring. The plants must be kept free, of course, of insect pests, etc., and undergo ordinary treatment in cultivation, as well as, if necessary, "roguing"' of plants—that is, the pulling out of specimens which do not make growth suitable and satisfactory for the production of best quality seed—the discarding, in fact, of all diseased or dwarfed stock. Harvesting takes place just about the time when most of the seeds have matured, cutting the seed stalks from the plant before the stage is reached when the seed shells out freely. The stalks may be hung up and allowed to cure until quite dry ere thrashing. Judgment and some common sense are required to know just when to harvest, and one should endeavour to get the bulk of the seed of good size, and yet not too ripe. This can be attained only by growing the healthy plant (in mangolds, for instance) well along to a stage when the greater proportion of the seedheads are fairly ripe. Subsequently, a short period in the sun for thoroughly drying, and the successful harvesting of a good grade of seed should be assured. Only one crop of the same botanical family should be harvested for seed, and to prevent cross-pollination plants of the same order should not be allowed to flower at the same time as the seed plot. Birds, of course, will have to be guarded against. Farmers should consider giving this seed-saving business a trial, or get some of the young people, boys or girls, to interest themselves. They might well attempt to save all the vegetable and garden seeds required, if not farm seeds. Ultimately we are bound to grow largely most of the farm seeds, and the present seems an opportune time to consider the matter seriously. Why risk any shortage of seeds next year, or perhaps particularly the year after next? The matter of saving sufficient seeds for our own requirements would seem but a wise precaution under present circumstances.