CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENT RECORD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 4, 15 April 1913, Page 430

CO-OPERATIVE EXPERIMENT RECORD.

SOUTH ISLAND

A. Macpherson.

NEW VARIETIES OF PLANTS UNDER. TEST. The following new varieties of seeds of roots, forage plants, and clovers, introduced by the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce, are being used in connection with the South Island co-operative experiments of the 1912-13 season : Kohl-rabi (from Barteldes Seed Company, Lawrence, Kansas). Early White Vienna ; Early Purple Vienna. Swedes (from Portland Seed Company, Portland, Oregon). Bangholm Pajbjerg, Improved Danish Purple-top.— variety was awarded a first-class certificate by the Danish Government for heaviest yield, having given 49 tons per acre. In shape it is a little more elongated than the Globe types. This variety is recommended as the best of its class. White Sweet Russian. This variety is excellent either for table or stock. It grows to a very large size. Flesh white, solid, of a firm texture, sweet and rich. An excellent keeper.

Swedes (from D. M. Ferry and Co., Detroit, Michigan). Hartley's Bronze-top.—. very large, oval swede, with very short neck. The colour of the root is yellow, with bronze-green top. This is a favourite sort in Canada, and can be depended upon to give good results. Universal, or Canadian Gem. — Roots nearly round, purple above ground, yellow beneath. Very small in- top and neck.. Flesh yellow, and of excellent quality. Exceptionally hardy and vigorous. Sometimes sold as “ Century.” ■ Perfection White.— Absolutely neckless. Tops small, -leaved. Flesh white and unusually fine-grained. Vigorous in growth, and usually yields better than the yellow-fleshed sorts. While valuable for stock-feeding, the white flesh is so excellent in quality that it is particularly desirable for table use. Yellow Swede.— Shape oblong ; dull reddish colour above ground, but yellow underneath ; is hardier than the common turnip,-and will keep solid until spring.

• Swedes (from Montgomery and Co.). Springwood Purple-top. Globular* shape, small top ; very fine, firm flesh. Edina Purple-top. Hardiest of all. Brownish, thick, leathery skin, resisting sever® frosts. Particularly free from mildew and finger-and-toe. Rich juicy flesh. Triumph Purple-top.—- Extra fine selection from Drummond’s Improved Standard. Large-growing variety. Harrietfield Bronze-top.- —Globular shape, small top ; grows great size with neat taproot. Flesh deep-golden colour. ,'. ,w £ ‘- Mangels (from Portland Seed Company, Portland, Oregon). Danish Sludstrup. —■This new mangel comes highly recommended. Our seed is direct / from the: originator. We give his descriptions, as follows : Long, reddish-yellow* grows,well above ground, and is easy to pull. Has repeatedly been awarded a "certificate by the Danish Government, and is doubtless the best mangel in the world.” . ..

Danish Red Giant Eckendorf. — Is of straight, cylindrical form, very blunt, and grows '■ " mostly above the surface. Awarded a first-class certificate as a very heavy cropper. Yellow Giant, Intermediate, or Gatepost.—Roots very large, growing over'one-half out of the ground. Flesh white, sweet, and tender; tops bright-green, comparatively small; neck small and short. We think this is perhaps the best of the yellowfleshed beets, because its fine flesh never becomes woody, and its roots grow so well , out of the ground that the crop is easily harvested. An enormous cropper.

Carrots (from F. H. Brunning Proprietary (Limited), Melbourne).

Querande or Ox-heart.— This -rooted carrot is a decided advance in shape. It is intermediate as to length, between the half-long varieties, such as Danvers, and the Shorthorn carrot, but much thicker than the latter, attaining at the top from 3 in. to 4 in. in diameter. It is of very fine quality for table.

Summer Favourite. splendid half-long sort, producing handsome bright cochineal scarlet carrots early in the season.

The Gem. — A splendid variety. The roots average 4 in. to 5 in. in length and about 3 in. in diameter, although they have been grown to nearly double these dimen-, sions. Quality first, rate, being very tender, with almost an entire absence of core.

Silver-beet (from F. H. Brunning Proprietary, Limited, Melbourne).

Swiss Chard or Silver (plain).—Habit erect and vigorous. The midribs are silvery-white and very large ; they should be served as asparagus, and the remainder of the leaves make a very valuable dish dressed as spinach. This beet is reproductive, and will bear frequent cutting, but the roots are not edible.

Swiss Chard or Silver Lucullus (curled).—This new variety grows to.a height of ft. ■ to 2|ft., and produces very large crumpled leaves on stalks as thick as rhubarb. These stalks are delicious when cooked and served in the same manner as asparagus. The leafy portion of the foliage, which is cooked and served in the same way as spinach, is very tender and of fine flavour.

Alfalfa or Lucerne (from Portland Seed Company, Portland, Oregon).

Dry-land Alfalfa.— new Dry-land alfalfa is said to produce large profitable crops of hay and excellent pastures on the high dry lands of eastern Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah.: Dry-land alfalfa is especially recommended for the hills and plateaux where irrigation is impossible. It comes from the highest, driest, alfalfa sections, and is declared to be very superior seed.

Turkestan Alfalfa.' — produce, it is reported, a luxuriant growth in the driest and hottest sections in America without irrigation. It, is perfectly hardy, and will stand extreme cold in winter without harm. It yields a very heavy and rich crop of hay and makes a permanent pasture. We have the genuine imported seed.

Clovers (from Messrs. Laing and Mather, Kelso).

Wild White Clover. — The effect of Wild White clover in pastures seems to be that it has a .fining influence on the other grasses: cocksfoot, for instance, not being half so •’ rank as when sown ordinarily. It is a slow grower, and does not show much in the first year, but in the second year* it becomes thoroughly established and spreads rapidly.

Clovers (from Barteldes Seed Company).

Mammoth, Sapling or Pea-vine Clover.— Being a rank grower, it is most valuable for fertilizing purposes. Foliage, flower, and stem are much darker than common red clover. It ripens later than the latter, about the time timothy, red-top, and other grasses ripen, making thereby a much better quality of hay when mixed ’ with them. Sow 12 lb. to 15 lb. to the acre.

Japan Clover.— perennial; ( spreading habit. ~ Stands excessive drought well. Flourishes on poorest soil in southern States of America. Sow 15 lb. per acre. It makes a fair hay, and stock eat it readily when green. . It is also valuable for ■ turning under as a green manure.; Sow in spring, and ~broadcast at the rate of 30 lb. per acre. ' ' • ‘ ■,

Esparsette or German Clover.—A. leguminous plant with many stems 2 ft. to 3 ft. long; leaves in pairs of oblong leaflets, hairy on under-side flower-stalks higher than leaves, with. spikes of crimson or variegated leaves followed by hard flat pods toothed and prickly. Perennial. Roots hard and woody. Same family as ' alfalfa. Adapted to light chalky soils; stands gravel and barren regions deficient in rainfall and without irrigation privileges. Shorter-lived plant than alfalfa, but will last from eight to ten years according to soil by judicious top-dressing of manure. It is excellent for cows, increasing flow and quality of milk. Would advise early and heavy seeding, followed with roller. Sow seed 2m. deep and from 30 lb. to 40 lb. per acre.