CERTIFIED SEED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 59, 12 March 1935, Page 4

CERTIFIED SEED

Sir, —Although the letter of “Satisfied,” which appeared in your issue of a late date, was addressed to the Editor, 1 feel that in fairness to the officers of the Agricultural Department and the farmers generally, 1 should pursue this matter of pure seed further and. perhaps make my position mc-re tenable.

In 1904 1 first became acquainted with I lie officers of this department ‘* as expert in phc-ruin culture/ ’ and during my visits to the officer frequently saw the experts testing seeds and realised its importance. Tnere is no doubt the officers in charge of this branch of the department have done valuable work and are doing it to-day, and further work of seed testing is at the disposal of all farmers free of cost.

The wonder is that every farmer has not availed himself of the opportunity to know the value of his seed before sowing it. As to * 1 Satisfied’s ’ contention that all merchants of repute both buy and sell under a certificate, will he answer this question? No later than thirteen months ago 1 procured a parcel of seed from a very large firm and as I invariably do, had the various varieties tested, one of which, viz-, white clover, tested tiO per cent, germination, a dead loss of 40 per cent. Does “Satisfied” consider tnat this was fair if that firm had the seeds tested, as “Satisfied” alleges they do and not to have disclosed the tests? Another question 1 would ask “ Satisfied, viz., if, as he alleges, all seed merchants of repute not only buy but also sell under this certificate, etc., etc. How does it happen that a large firm offered me a seed that, when tested, gave a test of 27 per cent, germination? In the first place, does he suppose that any firm would risk its reputation and purchase a seed of such a low test? If, as “Satisfied” contends, merchants of repute buy and sell under Government test, doss he consider it honest having had the seed tested (which 1 douot), to offer it for sale without first disclosing the test? No! Mr. Satisfied, the only fair method of buying and selling seeds is OU the Government test, which in every case should be legibly marked on every pa.reel of seed offered for sale. What benefit is it to the purchaser it the tests are kept up the merchants sleeves?—l am, etc., G. McGKEGOR. Banana, March 8, 1905.