H—29

Seed Certification Corresponding with the general, increase in seed-production has been an Increase in the quantity of seed certified. The following table sets out the total quantity of the various seeds certified during 1946, with the 1945 figures also given for comparison:— Seed. 1945. . 194(5. Perennial rye-grass . . 405,656 bushels 550,675 bushels Italian rye-grass .. 221,807 bushels 284,288 bushels Short-rotation rye-grass . . 6,150 bushels 48,449 bushels Cocksfoot . . .. 443,966 lb. 477,961 lb. Brown-top .. . . 594,258 lb. 773,209 lb. Timothy . . . . 86 lb. 25,020 lb. AVhite clover . . . . 1,655,481 lb. 3,654,326 lb. Montgomery red clover .. 292,356 lb. 927,834 lb. Cow-grass . . . . 15,399 lb. 141,479 lb. Subterranean clover . . 34,110 lb. 4,241 11). Lucerne . . . . . . 3,050 lb. Seed wheat . . . . 25,690 bushels 39,820 bushels *Seed maize . . . . .. 1,207 bushels Rape .. . . . . 239,098 lb. . 311,918 lb. # Turnip . . . . 164,172 lb. 5,499 lb. * Swede .. . . 122,584 lb. 424,173 lb. Chou moellier .. . . 46,167 lb. 41,633 lb. Onion seed . . .. 9,830 lb. 10,478 lb. Seed potatoes .. .. 3,575 lb. 7,651 lb.

* This seed is termed " Government approved."

Supplies of short-rotation rye-grass seed have increased markedly, the 1945 harvest being the first in which this strain was produced on a commercial basis. Certification of timothy seed was undertaken during 1946 for the first time. In the meantime certification is based on the 5.48 strain raised by the "Welsh Plant-breeding Station, Aberystwyth. A re-selection of this strain has been made locally, and is now in course of multiplication. The type of plant from which certified seed is produced is markedly superior to that represented by commercial stocks of seed imported in the past. The increase in production of certified white clover, Montgomery red clover, and cow-grass seed is largely a reflection of the improved harvestingconditions for this seed during 1946 in comparison with those of 1945. The production of certified subterranean-clover seed showed an appreciable reduction, due primarily to the fact that seasonal conditions during 1946 did not suit this plant. The information to date suggests that a greater quantity of seed will be saved! this year. With the experience in harvesting methods which is being gained, further extensions in the production of subterraneanclover seed may be expected, thus reducing the quantity which it is necessary to import. The first commercial production of certified lucerne seed occurred during the 1946 harvest. This seed represents a selected strain developed by the Agronomy Division of the Plant Research Station and is an improvement on the Marlborough strain commonly grown in New Zealand. For the first time the Department of Agriculture has been concerned in the production of seed maize. The seed is of hybrid character, the particular type (Pfister Hybrid No. 360) having been imported privately from the United States of America several years ago, and in the intervening period having given good results. The acreage of this type had increased very considerably,

39