Commercial Ryegrass Seed Is Expected To Be Popular

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18865, 16 November 1935, Page 13

Commercial Ryegrass Seed Is Expected To Be Popular

I T.TTLE Poverty Pay ryegrass seed last season came under the new commercial grade set by the Depnrfmen| of Agriculture, but it is expected that the standard will prove more popular this season. This opinion was expressed in an interview the writer had a few days ago with Mr. E. M". Pates, instructor in agriculture at Gisborne, when the season's prospects for seed certification in the district were reviewed. "Up to the present applications for certification of ryegrass and Montgomery red and white clover have been coming in very slowly this season," he said, and this is attributed to the late season causing farmers to delay applying as long as possible. As all entlies must be in by November 22 to avoid the payment of late fees and also to avoid congestion at the local office, farmers are urged to lodge their applications at. once. "Areas which are eligible for certification arc those (1) which have been entered before, (2) new areas sown with mother seed, and (',',) areas which on previous sample trial have proved up to certification standard.

" It should be noted that areas sown in permanent pasture seed an; not eligible i'or certification without sample trial. Any area, being harvested this year will be sampled for trial with a view to certification of that area in future seasons, if desired. "The*Department of Agriculture has three standards in certification:— (!) Mother seed, (2) permanent pasture seed, and, also, for ryegrass, (.".; commercial ryegrass seed.

"The commercial ryegrass seed standard is becoming popular in other districts, and it is anticipated that a good deal of seed will be deat with in this class this season. lu this case, no field inspection is required, but. any machine-dressed seed is eligible for entry, and it it passes the ultraviolet ray test for type and also the purity and germination test, it is sealed as 'commercial ryegrass seed.' It is anticipated that, many areas which have not. yet, been sample tested will be entered under this heading this season. Entries for this seed need only bo made after the line i* machine-dressed, and the charge for testing and sealing is small.

"Fanners who are in doubt about entering paddocks should apply, as the area can be withdrawn, provided this

is done before the field inspection, when the fees will be refunded. Cer•tification fees are at the rate of ]/■ per acre, and application forms, one for each paddock, are obtainable at the office of the Department of Agriculture. Application forms, together with the fees, must be in by November 22 to avoid the late fee of 10/-."