A Farmer’s Notebook FARMING AND THE WAR

Southland Times, Issue 24237, 21 September 1940, Page 12

A Farmer’s Notebook FARMING AND THE WAR

Change Of Methods Necessary SUPPLY OF BRASSICA SEEDS PRODUCTION PROSPECTS IN SOUTHLAND

The reactions of British people to the war are many and varied; in the course of time they will be recorded and passed on to future generations in numbers of historical volumes. The adaptation of scientific invention, to purposes of destruction is one of the outstanding features of this war; industrial concerns respond rapidly with spectacular results. While agriculture undergoes many revolutionary changes in time of. war, scientific discoveries cannot be incorporated in farming practice as quicldy as they can in manufacturing industries. One of the main effects of the war upon agriculture in the Dominions, particularly in New Zealand, is to bring about the development of phases of farming that have been given comparatively little attention in times of peace. One of these of special interest to farmers in parts of Southland, is the introduction of linen flax—a species of linseed noted for its yield of high-grade fibre. Approximately 5000 acres of land in Southland will be devoted to the establishment of the linen flax industry this season. This area, in conjunction with a greatly increased acreage of land put under the plough for wheat, oats, and fodder crops, will cause radical changes on many farms from the usual system of management.

SUPPLY OF SMALL SEEDS Another effect of the war on farming is the effect upon the supply of small seeds, such as swedes, turnips, chou mollier, rape and kale. In the past farmers in this country have given little thought to the source of supply of these seeds which are so vital to the men on the land in this province. In the near future a great deal of attention will of necessity have to be given, to the production of the small seeds mentioned. It is not as well known as it should be that from 1941 onwards there is every prospect that overseas supplies of these seeds Will be almost entirely cut off, and that New Zealand farmers will need to. produce the seeds for themselves or do without their usual crops of swedes and turnips. For this season merchants have supplies of seed on hand and farmers have no need for worry. The production of seeds of the brassica family in large quantities is quite practicable in Southland. To do it successfully and prevent the cross-fertil-ization of different varieties is a matter that calls for a certain amount of specialized knowledge. This problem of maintaining pure strains of swede, turnip and rape seeds is one of considerable importance. So much so that the Department of Agriculture has set up an organization with the object of imparting the necessary knowledge to farmers who have been called upon to introduce the production of brassica seeds into, their farming operations. It is in times of emergency and crisis that the research work conducted by the officers of the Department of Agriculture comes most prominently under notice. For a number of years much study has been given to plant breeding and seed production. In recent years large quantities of rape seed have been grown in Canterbury, and with the knowledge now in the hands of the department it is possible to apply it to growing swede and turnip seeds with every prospect of success. MERCHANTS AS CONTRACTORS The basis of the system for the production of seeds of the brassica family is that the Department of Agriculture has made an arrangement with merchants to act as contractors for supplies. The merchants in turn have al- I ready made arrangements with a num- i ber of farmers to grow the seeds on contract, and the whole scheme will be under the supervision of the department. This involves inspection and rogueing of all crops grown for seed purposes.

From Dunedin southwards to Tuatapere 1100 acres of swedes and turnips are required for seed purposes for the coming season. Arrangements in this area for contract growing are in the hands of the firm of Wright, Stephenson and Co. Ltd., who have almost completed the preliminary work involved.

Owing to the favourable weather in the late winter and early spring, many acres of root crops were not required for stock fodder, and arrangements have been made for a large area of existing crops to be reserved for seed production, the harvesting of which should be done early in 1941. In addition an area of about 1100 acres will be sown especially for seed purposes this season. Most of these areas will not be sown until towards the end of this year. The main reason for late sowing is that for seed production small bulbs are most suitable, and with this object in view extra heavy seeding is usual. It is more than likely that the production of brassica seeds will become a permanent branch of farming operations. In view of the importance of maintaining varieties and strains true to type from season to season, Mr A. Stuart, instructor in agriculture at Invercargill, was approached for some information about methods of preventing cross-fertilization and the avoidance of hybrids such as a rape-swede and wild turnip-swede cross. SUGGESTED METHOD

The main method of avoiding trouble in that direction, said Mr Stuart, was to select with care a certain number of typical specimen bulbs from a crop, perhaps about 200 from a five-acre block, then clear an area about a chain square in the middle of the block and replant the selected bulbs. This system ensured that there was little risk of bees carrying pollen from a foreign crop, as they would be almost certain to rub off any pollen they carried on the flowers on the wide fringe surrounding the specially selected bulbs. In this way a fairly adequate supply of pure Government stock seed could be assured each year. The question of producing seed free from seed-borne diseases- is one that provides a most interesting study, of which dry rot is a good example, although soil infection of a growing crop is common. In the past a good deal of swede seed was grown in France, and as a precaution against dry rot infection of seed the method of moulding earth completely to cover the bulb of the seed-bearing plant was reported to have been very successful. It is a well- , known fact that dry. rot attacks only

the portion of the bulb above ground; therefore, there is reason to believe that a series of trials on similar lines would be well worth while in Southland.