THE OFFICIAL SEED-TESTING STATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXX, Issue 5, 20 May 1925, Page 321

THE OFFICIAL SEED-TESTING STATION.

RECORD OF OPERATIONS FOR 1924.

NELSON R. FOY,

Seed Analyst, Biological Laboratory, Wellington.

For the twelve months ended December, 1924; 8,266 samples were submitted to the Seed-testing Station for germination tests. Of these samples 1,236 were also analysed for purity. In addition, approximately 500 miscellaneous laboratory tests were made, and 125 samples were received from farmers. A decrease on the number tested .for the previous year is shown, this probably being attributable to the fact that the seed-export trade was not so active during 1924, particularly in perennial rye-grass. Crested dogstail may be excepted, as New Zealand seed of this species was in considerable demand overseas. , ' Table 1 shows the movement of the. testing-work throughout the year, and Table 2 gives an indication of the activities of the seed trade compared with 1923.

GRASSES. The average percentage purity and germination of the main grasses are shown in Table 3. ’ ' “ ' • Rye-grasses — The averages for perennial Italian and Western Wolths are all higher than those recorded for 1923, as was also the yield at. harvest.. In contrast to 1923 the demand for seed did not equal J the supply," and consequently there has been in some districts a fair carry-over into. 1925. Table 4 shows the average growth of perennial rye-grass by districts. Sandon is again disappointing, and the failure of the seed from this district to germinate satisfactorily is being investigated at this Station. . - ■ Cocksfoot. — Fair average quality characterized this seed. Danish generally’ is of a higher growth than New Zealand seed, the average shown in Table 4 being thrown out by a few very inferior lines. A reduction every year in the yields of Akaroa seed is followed naturally by an increase in the importation of Danish. This is a regrettable state of affairs, but is inevitable with the increase of dairying' on Banks Peninsula. The more continuous grazing not only tends to lessen seed - production, but, given sufficient time, will alter the constituent character of these famous Cocksfoot pastures. Timothy— All imported seed of this species was of good quality. Crested Dogstail i—The dogstail crop was of good average quality. Southern seed, however, did not hold its germination capacity very well abroad. This seed is famous for its colour, and English. buyers, are beginning to discover that colour is not always the most desirable characteristic of dogstail. A light colour usually denotes either immaturity or a forced ripening out of the head. Such seed rarely holds its ’growth for any great length of time, and shipment conditions probably tend to accentuate this feature. Southland growers would do well to leave the seed in stook a week or so longer, or, where practicable, delay cutting a few . days. Danthonia. — The . quality was fair. A large number of very rough samples were received, some containing up to 60 per cent, of hair-grass, rye-grass, and inert matter (straws, &c.). There now appears to be a tendency to label this seed with the additional specific names pilosa or semiannular is, reserving the generic name for mixtures of the two species. Brown-top. — The quality was irregular, ranging from extraordinarily poor to particularly good. Some of the samples did not contain sufficient filled seed to enable the standard germination test to be made. It is high time that the blower was put on to all brown-top. In this connection it is reported that some firms are dressing this seed up to its full weight for export. If the American trade is to be encouraged and retained a fancy grade of seed will have to be used for the purpose. In the dressed state brown-top is superficially the same in appearance as American red-top, and farmers when buying the cleaned seed should make sure it is New Zealand brown-top that is being offered to them. . Determinations of Agrostis species are made gratis at this Station. v- Chewings Fescue. — The. samples received were of good average quality/ This seed is important mainly from an export point of view, being now of little account in New Zealand pastures generally.'-'' ,r -’ ' '

Paspalum Dilitatum.- —Quality in general was good, some samples growing over 90 per cent. All the high-grade seed received, was of Australian origin, most of these samples being, direct from Australian seed firms. . ?S.' t .... .

' Poa Prdtensis — Samples were of fair average quality, most of the seed being of American origin. The few samples of New-Zealand-grown. seed all germinated over 90 per cent. Other Grasses, &c.— Average germination -percentages of the species included under this heading were as follows : Fine-leaved fescue, 50-0 ; tall fescue, 74-5 ; sheep's fescue, 58-5 ; red-top, 75-2 ; Indian doob, '82-0 ; Poa nemoralis, 49-0; Poa trivialis, 44-0; Yorkshire fog, 87-8; yarrow, 67-8. ? . . .

CLOVERS, ETC. The average purity and germination percentages of the main clovers, &c., are shown in Table 6. White Clover.— This was of the usual high standard of quality. Dodder occurred in 14 per cent, of the samples examined, compared with 5 per cent, in 1923. Dodder was noted in a fair number of the samples submitted for germination only, but as no regular examination is made of these no record is kept. The annual report of the Seedtesting Station for England and Wales for 1923 shows New Zealand white clover, when compared with that of" other countries, at the top of the list for purity and germination. This statement is offset by the fact that half of the samples received by the Station in question contained dodder, usually in small amounts. The report further remarks that “this could easily be removed by suitable screening.” It is doubtful whether any country pays more attention to seed-cleaning than does

New Zealand, but when dodder ’ is in the seed crops no amount of screening will eliminate every seed of it from white clover. Crop inspection, or perhaps the use of the new electro-magnetic process of cleaning, would be a better proposition.

Alsike.- —All imported seed was of good quality. Only '. two samples contained Californian thistle. Cow-grass and Red Clover. — These were of good quality, -and practically all samples were New Zealand seed. In the English report referred to above, New Zealand red clover (cow-grass) is shown in comparison with that of five other countries. Like our white clover, it leads in purity and germination, but is third on the list with 25 per cent, of the samples containing dodder. As regards samples examined at this Station, only 5 per cent, contained dodder. Nearly eighty species of impurities were noted in cow-grass and red clover, most of them appearing in imported seed. Lucerne. All examined was high-grade seed. None of the samples contained dodder. Crimson Clover. — With the exception, of a few obviously very old samples, all were of high quality. Lotus Major. — This was of fair average quality generally. Some of the imported seed was very dirty, discoloured, and high in dodder content. Northern (New Zealand) samples all contained Lotus hispidus, in quantities varying from 1 to 90 per cent. Dodder was also present in a number of these. Southern lotus major was of very high quality, although some of the samples contained ragwort. • : Other Clovers, &c. — The average germination of the less common of these was as follows : — . ■ . Germination . ■ Hard Seeds . Percentage. Percentage.

Strawberry-clover .. .. . .. 86-o .... 21-0 Subterranean clover . . . . . .. 70-3 22-0 Suckling-clover . . ... . . 82-6 ... 13-0 Lotus corniculatus . . . . . . 56-5 ib-o Lotus bispidus . . . . . . 54-3 26-0

ROOTS AND .CRUCIFEROUS FORAGES. J . The 'next table gives all the necessary information for this class, there being little to comment upon. - i

CEREALS AND MISCELLANEOUS FORAGES. The average germination percentages of these seeds ' were as follows : Wheat, 88-o; oats, 85-3 ; barley, 74-8 ; rye-corn, 74-5 ; maize, 87-5 ; Japanese millet, 88-9. -■ " ' PEAS, BEANS, TARES, ETC. ■Average germinations under this class were as follows : Peas, 92-3 ; beans, 83-9 ; tares, 86-5 ; vetches, 95-0 ; . blue lupins, 65-0. " VEGETABLES. The average germination percentages, and number , of samples of the main vegetable seeds dealt with are shown in the following list :— c . - Number of Average c H Number of Average ee • Samples. Germination. ‘ Samples. Germination.

Broccoli .. 22 84-5 Marrow . . 18 84-3 Cabbage .. 35 79-5 Melon ... • • 36 86-7 Celery . . .. 8 55-0 Onion .. -39 60-o Cauliflower .. 21 71-2 Parsnip ~ .14 57-8 Carrot . . • .. 82 ’■ 65-6 Pumpkin ... .. 14 .76-0 Cucumber .. 13 88-4 -Radish.. .. 19 84-2 Leek . . . . 12 51-8 Spinach .. .. 8 42-6 Lettuce . . 13 83-0 Tomato .. 12 / .96*5

For purposes of comparison, those interested are referred to the Seed Station report for 1923, which was published in the Journal for June, 1924. Acknowledgment is made of the careful computation of the figures in this record by Mr. W. J. Cooch, of the Seed Station staff.

Month. Number. Month. Number. January... . . 556 July ■' , .. 469 February ... ... 748 ' August ... 699 March ' 866 September 1,014 April . . .... 853 October .. . . ... 556 May . . . . . . 938 November 506 June 650 December .. ...' 41

Table 1. —Number of Samples received in the Different Months, 1924.

Seed. . 1923Seed. 1923Lucerne . . . . 103 97 Paspalum • ’.. 56 34 Alsike . . . . 74 74 Poa pratensis . . 51 ■46 White clover 293 325 Prairie-grass . . 19 21 Cow-grass and red clover. . 439 405 Other grasses . . ■ ■ .. 72 160 Crimson clover . . 25 36 Japanese millet 32 4° English trefoil . . 27 34 Oats ... 42 42 Lotus major . . 5° 63 Other cereals . . 35 18 Other clovers . . 49 3 6 Mangolds . . ■ . . . 208 184 Perennial rye-grass £>031 537 Turnips .. • ■ - 4W .413 Italian rye-grass 255 ■ 370 Swedes L33 278 Western Wolths 176 201 ■ Rape . . .. 86 45 Timothy 69 ; 76 Kale (Buda and Thousand39 48 Crested dogstail. . 641 90 headed) Danthonia spp. ... 47 . 81 Chou moellier . . • • ■ 34 Brown-top . . 54 78 Tree-seeds 20 16 Chewings fescue. . . . 49° 524 -Flower-seeds . . . . ' 24 20 Meadow-fescue ... 33 35 Vegetables (other than peas'; 410 325 Meadowr.foxtail- . . 49 43 Peas . . .. • 260 179 Yarrow.-jj .. 12 - Tares/vetches, &c. 16 26 Cocksfoot jj f . .. 516 ■ 610

Table 2.—Number of Samples received of the various Species, 1923 and 1924.

■ . Seed. Average of Percentage Impurities. Percentage of Germination. Percentage of Samples germinating between "co <1> X bo , £ 0 bO . cd CD (/) <D is . > 0 <? u 0-50. 51-60. 61-70. 71-80. 81-90. 91-100. <D £ 0-50. 51-60. 61-70. 71-80. 81-90. 91-100. Perennial rye-grass . . Italian rye-grass Western Wolths Timothy . . Crested dogstail Cocksfoot . . ... Brown-top Chewings fescue Meadow-fescue Poa pratensis Meadow-foxtail Danthonia, spp. Paspalum. . . . 2-7 o-4 0-2: 0-5 o-7 i3'3 3'0 1-0 0-2 0-5 IOO IOO IOO , .1 99 IOO 1 97 96 97 ■ 97 83 86 87 90 . 90 87 62 61 80 58 52 .8 3 9 ■ 28 10 0 8 1 0 3 3 5 3 3 20 28 6 50 ; 32 2 3 I 1 0 1 20 15 3 3 42 8 5 1 2 3 24 1.5 8 6 18 16 8 1 6 10 21 18 20 12 . 6 28 18 16 14 3i 14 18 39. < 12 2 43 63 70 74 53 2 3 25 : 18 5-o i 7 -8 0-2 ; 85 1 83 i 84 30 36 36 3 2 0 0-20. 20 ' 24 40 21-30. 28 24 9 31-40. 24 2 4 41-50. 16 3 5 51-60. 2 ■. "2 20 61-100. ■ 2 IO 2 3 X

Table 3. Average Percentage Purity, and Germination of the Main Grass-Seeds.

Seed. Average Percentage of Impurities. Percentage of Samples germinating. ■ Average Germination. Number of Samples. 81-90. 91-100. ! Perennial Pye-grass. Southern .. .. o-8 33 35 ' 84-3 377 Canterbury • . . o-3 o-3 15 15 66 66 91-0 9I-0 226 .226 Sandon .. ■ . . o-i 36 28 82-4 . 157 Hawke’s Bay . . o-5 8 84 93-5 61 Poverty Bay o-5 . 5 80 94-0 23 ■ . ■ ■ Crested Dogstail. Crested Dogstail. Southern . . . . .. o-8 34 50 88-o 486 Sandon •... . . . 0-1 . 24 65 . 90-2 ' 75 Cocksfoot. ’ 1 * '1 51-7°- 7r 7i -80. -80. 81-100. 8.1-100. Plains -b . . ■ ‘ 2-0 40 40 16 .68-2 24-. Akaroa .. . . . . i-3 58 16 11 62-8 100 Danish .. • ■ .. . • • 1-2 36 22 25 .66-2 152

Table 4. —A verage Percentage Purity and Germination of Perennial Rye-grass, Crested Dogstail, and Cocksfoot, according to District of Origin.

Impurities. Perennial Rye-grass Italian Rye grass. Western Wolths. 1 Crested. Dogstail. Cocksfoot. Brown-top. Chewings Fescue. Danthonia. Hair-grass ' 74 58 57 29 23 50 36 IOO Goose-grass ■ .. 72 71 55 69 . 13 .40 Catsear 25 IO 5 6l 17 58 80 • 65 Perennial rye-grass ;. 75 93 14 76 80 Sweet vernal .; 11 3 i 20 . I 28 49 75 Rib-grass .. T 3 16 ■: 16 IO 7 71 22 4 85 Yorkshire fog . . . ■ 23 20 . 22 90 62 28 64 80 Sorrel .. .. . . 35 39 . 30 55 23 34 65 ■ 26 45 Curled dock .. '. if 13 17 2 White clover . . 15 12 5 40 15 L5 4 4 Creeping-buttercup , . . . 1 17 Californian thistle 1 2 29 W 2 Hawkweed 6 36 9 14 Ergot sclerotia . . ...... 35 IO 30 24 . 7 36 ■ IO Ox-eve daisy 10 7 Cocksfoot .. .. 22 23 11 - 19 IO 7 21 Fat-hen ■' e .'. 50 5 Italian rye-grass. . 73 14 Suckling-clover . . ' 24 38 ■ 22 9 .• 29 ’■ 4 42 Crested dogsfail . . 19 3 3 7 20 37. Chick weed . . : . I 3 42 Field-madder . . 1 1 / 3 42 .. Alsike . . 4 100 2 1 1 Lotus spp. 1 ' ' 2 I 93 2 Cow-grass . ■ 4 . 1 5 IO I 20 7 -I ■ 4 Toad-rush . . 2 2 1 4 2 79 3 6

Table 5. —Occurrence of the Main Impurities of the Grasses.

Seed. Percentage Average Impurities. Percentage of ■ Germination. . Percentage of Sampled germinating between Seeds. Percentage | — ■ bi ct$ Average. 1 (V Lowest. [ 7 Lowest. 0-50. 0-50. 51-60. 51-60. 61-70. 61-70. 71-80. ! ■ 71-80. 81-90. 91-100. ■J ■ 81-90. 91-100. White clover. . 3'5 99 • 87 ' io 4 • i 1 1 ' ! 6 43 47 - 12'5 Alsike ' 2-0 98 86 13 4 I 3 • TO 26 56 4-4 Cow-grass o-6 100 9i 15 2 1 ■ 2 2 ! 21 72. 4-6 Lucerne .. o-4 100 89 61 0 0 • • 0 ’ 15 28 56 7:9 English trefoil o-i 97 74 ' 23 19 ' II II 11 I 0 49 4 0 Crimson clover 1-3 100 93 41 3 0 64 0 10 80 0’0 Lotus major .. ii;3 99 76 33 12 6 ■ -8 22 34 18 T3‘2

Table 6.—Average Percentage Purity and Germination of the Main Clovers, &c.

Seed. of Impurities. Percentage of Germination. Percentage of Samples germinating between Highest. Average. Lowest. 0-50. 51-60. 61-70. 71-80. 81-90. 91-100. Turnips o-i TOO 90 3 1 2 3 4 8 23 61 Swedes O-I TOO 86 33 2 6 7 12 27 46 Rape O-I IOO 90 46 I 0 4 8 34 52 Kale O-I IOO 80 3° IO 3 IO 13 28 36 Chou moellier O-I 99 85 49 ■ 3 6 6 12 27 50 • — — — — — — — 0-50. 51-100. 101-150. 151-200. 301-250. 251-300. Mangolds ■. .. O-I 272 147 46 0 IO 42 41 3 I

Table 7.- —Average Percentage Purity and Germination of the Main Roots and Cruciferous Forages.