CERTIFIED SEEDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21573, 8 February 1940, Page 3

CERTIFIED SEEDS

CROPS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY PADDOCK SEALING OF THE CROP Since the beginning of January the officers of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture stationed in South Canterbury have had a busy time “paddock sealing” certified seed crops grown in the district. This work entails a great deal of travelling and with hte particularly fine harvest weather of the past few weeks threshing mills and headers have been working at high pressure resulting in an almost record quantity of seed and grain being put through. All grain and grass seed threshed has been in excellent condition and while some of the grass seed is on the light side the germination tests of the seed are very good. This season a much larger area of rape has been grown, three times that of the previous year, and the crops have been most satisfactory and the seed in splendid order.

South Canterbury is one of the principle districts in the Dominion for the production of certified seeds and it is anticipated that as much as 30.000 sacks of certified seeds will be handled this season. To date 9000 sacks have

been sealed and branded in the paddock.

The certification regulations lay it down that the bags of seed must be branded and sealed in the paddock as they come off the threshing mill or combine. This sealing must be carried out by one or other of the Certification Officers and until it has been done the seed cannot be shifted out of the paddock. Samples have also to be taken of some classes of seed. The Certification Officer carries his branding outfit, special ink for job, and a supply of seals with him in his car. The seals are affixed by means of a specially designed pair of pliers. Identification of the line is actually established at two points. Not only is the seed sealed and branded when it comes off the mill prior to being transported into the dressing plant, it is also sealed and tagged when it comes off the dressing plants, and the quantity that comes off the machines is checked carefully with the quantity that came off the mill or combine, to further ensure that no seed has been added to the consignment in the process of transportation In addition, a sample is drawn from each line on which the official purity and germination tests are taken and in conformation of these, the sample is tested out for strain quality. Before seed can be sealed and tagged as finally certified, it must comply with certain minimum standards of purity. These standards, however, are only to ensure that seed has been reasonably cleaned. The following areas of certified seeds have been grown this season and the acreage compares most favourably when compared with that of the previous year:—

Crop Areas Acres 1940 1939 Broad Red Clover .. .. 5 93 — Cocksfoot 28 275 164 Italian Ryegrass .. .. 44 484 211 Montgomery Red Clover 87 1146 607 Perennial Ryegrass .. 90 997 1000 Potatoes 248 966 1313 Rape 17 307 100 Wheat 182 2866 1779 White Clover 8 80 — — 7214 5174