RYEGRASS TRIALS

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 7

RYEGRASS TRIALS

EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME SOUTHLAND AND HAWKES BAY STRAINS That extensive trials, covering 20 acres of the Winton Experimental Farm and an adjoining property, were to be carried out from the spring of 1936 with established and proved Southland strains of ryegrass with a view to settling the question of palatability and thriftiness compared with certified northern strains was disclosed at the monthly meeting yesterday of the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. On behalf of the grain and seed committee, Mr E. Cameron reported that good progress had been made regarding the proposed ryegrass trials at Winton. Advice had been received from the department that the trials were to be undertaken provided satisfactory arrangements for the leasing of 10 acres of land adjacent to the experimental farm could be made. It was proposed to put down the trials in the spring of 1936. A letter from the department stated that true Southland strains would be tried out against certified 'northern strains, and it was expected that the results would throw a clear light on the much-debated question of palatability and thriftiness of Southland ryegrass. “The evidence at present is very conflicting and made more so by the fact that so many lines still harvested in Southland can be described as false perennial,” the letter from the department said. “It is only natural to suppose that the more the plant leans to the Italian parent, the more palatable it will become.” Already financial contributions had been received, said the secretary (Mr A. L. Adamson), and no difficulty was anticipated in financing the trials. More Remunerative Prices. The following remit had been received from the Nightcaps branch, said Mr Cameron: “This branch of the Farmers’ Union respectfully asks the Southland Executive to investigate methods of safeguarding the quality of Southland ryegrass seed and suggests that the grain brokers be approached with a view to obtaining more remunerative prices for old pasture seed This had been considered by the committee, Mr Cameron continued. The first clause was being met by the proposed trials at Winton, and the committee had no recommendation to make concerning the second. “It is purely a matter for individual farmers, Mr Cameron said. “Each man must make the best deal he can.” Speaking in support of the Nightcaps remit, Mr Lynch said that although there was some very fine seed in Southland, and true perennial, too, it had been discredited since the Hawkes Bay boom began two or three years ago. Some Southland seed was poor. That was admitted. But there was a great deal of first-class seed. Mr Lynch said he knew there was some attempt being made to re-establish Southland seed, and he thought that the executive should do everything possible to assist. He thought that a great deal of good would come of a discussion between the grain and seed committee and the Southland Merchants’ Association. Commercial Seed. Mr S. C. Bowmar said he thought that the position was fairly well met by the establishment of commercial seed, which was on the same basis as perennial. Commercial seed was bringing fairly good prices, and it would be unwise to encourage anything that was going to do away with the commercialized lines. Mr Lynch: A number of growers felt that the Government tests were made to fit Hawkes Bay seed rather than Hawkes Bay seed made to fit the tests. Members: No. Mr Lynch: I know of some very fine lines that have not passed. Mr W. H. Ward: I don’t see that we can interfere with or attempt to dictate to the merchants. There is no doubt that we have seed in Southland quite as good as northern lines. We have been slow, but we are on the job now with these trials at Winton. It will take time, but then we will know exactly how we measure up alongside northern seed. Mr C. H. Wilson: They have been trying out Southland strains at Winton for some time now, and you can pick Southland lines as soon as you get within 50 yards of them. Mr Cameron emphasized again that the proposed trials were to be with the very best of Southland strains.