PICKLED SEED WHEAT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 16

PICKLED SEED WHEAT

GERMINATION REDUCED By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. Tests showing a marked reduction in germination of seed wheat treated with a commercial pickling dust, reported to a meeting of the committee of the Wheat Research Institute to-day, led members to take a serious view of its effect. “Astonishing,” was the comment of Mr R. B. Tennent, Director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, when Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf read the results of a test carried out last month. Dr. Hilgendorf detailed experiments carried out to see what the dust would do when kept in contact with seed wheat over a period of nine months. Four lines of headed and four of stock threshed wheat were used, he said, moisture content varying from 14.5 per cent, to 15.5 per cent., so no sample was damp. Dust equal to 2oz a bushel was used. Tests were made at the Palmerston North station, the first seed being started on May 18, a month after pickling. With both types of sample, an average reducJon in germination of 19 per cent, was noted. Driest wheats in both lots suffered lease, but all were seriously damaged, although they had been pickled only a month when the test started. A 12-day germination was used. Mr W. W. Mulholland said that the results were important, because farmers had been told that they could pickle at any time without spoiling germination. Mr G. Fleetwood said the manufacturers claimed the dust improved germination. “I would like to see more checks than this, but it looks pretty bad," said Mr Tennent. The committee decided to bring its preliminary findings before the manufacturers, and to continue its investigation in co-operation with the Department of Agriculture and the Plant Diseases Division.