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Certified Phalaris tuberosa seed and certified sweet blue lupin seed have been produced in limited and irregular quantities for several years. The decline in production of certified subterranean-clover seed is the result of an unfavourable season for this crop, most of which is harvested in the Marlborough district. Linen-flax seed was certified in 1949 in order to meet overseas orders being received for this seed. This procedure is being continued and enables surplus stocks of locallygrown seed to be sold to European markets. The certification of seed oats has shown the expansion normally to be expected of a crop newly introduced into the scheme, and it is too early yet to forecast its ultimate standing. A similar remark applies to seed barley, which was introduced into the scheme a season later. All seed maize certified is of hybrid type grown from parent material imported by the Department from the United States of America. The seed distributed is sufficient to sow about half of our maize grain acreage, and it.is intended that all seed certified should be the immediate product of further parent material imported by the Department. The production of Government-approved turnip and swede seeds and of certified chou-moellier seed has fluctuated according to the stock position of these seeds, and is not an indication of market shortages or surpluses. The production of kale seed is at present not equal to the demand. General.—The Agronomy Section supervises the details involved in the export and import licensing of agricultural seeds. The general principle adopted is to restrict export only in so far as protection of local requirement is necessary and to permit import of those seeds not being grown locally in sufficient quantity. The section co-operates with other sections of the Department in the testing-out of strains and varieties of farm crops, and with the Divisions of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in the multiplication and release of improved types. It is associated with the activities of Advisory Committees dealing with various crops while the operations of the Department's Seed-testing Station are closely linked with it. Seed-testing Station The volume of work at the Seed-testing Station continued at a high level during 1949 ; the numbers of tests carried out during the past three years have been as follows 1947. 1948. 1949. Purity .. .. .. 35,623 32,451 32,986 Germination .. .. ..48,922 45,158 44,703 Ultra-violet ray .. .. 6,087 3,952 4,768 Picric acid .. .. .. 6,398 6,231 5,596 Staff. —Recruitment of staff has improved, but staff numbers are still below establishment. The research sections of the Station have been improved and an effective liaison has been built up between the research and testing sections. Pre-harvest Examination of Rye-grass Seed. —Substations staffed by five officers of the Seed-testing Station were established at Christchurch and Timaru for examination of blind-seed disease. A total of 714 samples was examined. Seed-purchasing. —During the calendar year 1949 seed for Government Departments was purchased to a value of £266,000. General.—-The work of the Seed-testing Station was brought to the notice of farmers and merchants through show exhibits, radio talks, and lectures. A large number of persons comprising students, farmers, merchants, and teachers have visited the Station during the year.

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