CANTERBURY SEEDGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XII, Issue 4, 20 April 1916, Page 291

CANTERBURY SEEDGROWERS’ ASSOCIATION.

The following communication .from' Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, will,-it is hoped, act as a reminder to farmers of the .seed-im-provement work now being pioneered by the Canterbury Seedgrowers’ Association, and stimulate extended support of the movement :

The association exists for the purpose of providing good and pure seed to farmers. It consists of farmers who have appointed an inspector to examine their crops and seed, and to keep all members' in touch with each other and working on the same lines. '

The procedure is as follows : A member notifies the inspector when his crop is nearly ripe, and the inspector examines it standing in the field. If it is true to name and sufficiently pure and free from weeds he agrees'to register' the crop. If it is not sufficiently pure he advises the grower'to remove impurities from an acre or so, in order to have pure seed for next year. After harvest the grower of any crop that has been passed sends a large sample of his seed, which the inspector then examines for purity and germination-capacity. If still satisfied, he then again visits the farmer, samples all the bags, compares them with the sample on which he made his analysis, and seals the bags with the association’s seal.

Only a small number of growers have so far joined, but it is hoped that the numbers will now increase. ■ Any one that is willing to take the small amount of trouble requisite to grow pure seed of any kind whatever is eligible for membership if he lives in or near Canterbury. Later on other associations may be started in other centres. There is probably a good demand for registered seed of wheat of the established varieties, for Algerian, Dun, Danish, and other oats, as well as for the grass and clover seeds.

While comparatively few farmers can make a speciality of seedgrowing, yet it is to the advantage of all farmers to have the association well established, so that they may have in time a sure source of good seed when they wish for a change of either wheat, oats, barley, grasses, or clovers. Any one can help the association this year by purchasing seed from the growers of registered crops, so that they may. be encouraged to continue their efforts and expand their operations. Wheat-seed of three varieties —'College Hunters, White Tuscan, and Solidstraw Tuscan-A-is available for the coming seed-time.

Particulars of growers and registered crops will be supplied on application to the writer, f Any farmer wishing to join the association is also requested to communicate with the writer,. whose address is Lincoln College, Christchurch.

The best cropping-potato this season at Weraroa Experimental Farm has been Maori Chief, yielding 14 tons per acre, and the tubers being of good size and quality for table use. Gamekeeper was a good second with 12 tons per acre, and proved the best blightresister. Seasonal conditions generally have been adverse for potatogrowing at the farm.