RAPE AND TURNIP SEED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21553, 16 January 1940, Page 9

RAPE AND TURNIP SEED

INTERNAL PRODUCTION By Tplesraph —Pres? Association WELLINGTON, January 15. To ensure an adequate supply of rape, turnip and swede seeds in New Zealand during the war, it has been decided to arrange for the internal production of these seeds under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. L. Martin announced to-day. The growing of brassica crops for seed purposes was being supervised by the Fields Division, Department of Agriculture. Considerable quantities of seed will be produced under official supervision and under the system of contract to merchants from selected stocks, said the Minister, but it is expected in addition that other farmers will on their own account save crops for seed. Though the saving of seed by farmers is not discouraged, it is felt that wherever possible contracts with merchants should first be arranged for any seed which might be produced. It is obvious that unless there is some control there is grave danger of the seed produced being of inferior qualitv. Farmers who have grown brassica crops for seed production will realise fully the danger of cross-pollination among adjacent crops. Every effort is being made to produce in New Zealand seed of the highest quality. Thus it is necessary in the interests of the farming community to exercise a measure of control over brassica seed production. Farmers in areas where crops are being grown for seed should take every precaution to see that no plants among the crops not intended for seed purposes reach the flowering stage.

The local instructors in agriculture are beng authorised to take the necessary steps to ensure the protection (1) of those crops sown with selected stocks which are under contract to mercantile firms, and (2) of any other crops likely to produce high qualitv seed. Farmers are therefore urged in their own interests to get into communication with the local instructor in agriculture before sowing any area intended specifically for brassica seed nroduction or reserving for seed any brassica crops which were sown primarily as grazing propositions.