THE GRASS-SEED INDUSTRY IN SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 20 March 1928, Page 189

THE GRASS-SEED INDUSTRY IN SOUTHLAND.

N. R Foy,

Seed Analyst, Biological Laboratory, Wellington, and R. McGillivray, ; ' Instructof in- Agriculture, Invercargill, '■ ' ' ; '-

The New Zealand grass- and clover-seed industry is centred mainly in the South Island, wherein it is divided into several groups, the two. largest being Canterbury and Southland, where this line of production takes an important place in farming practice. . Southland is mainly a, grass-seed producing centre, only a comparatively small quantity of clover-seed - being saved. The rye-grasses (perennial . and . Italian), Chewings fescue, and crested dogstail are the species produced .in greatest quantity, while brown-top, Lotus major, and wild white clover are saved in appreciable amounts. ■ The history of the grass-seed industry in Southland goes back to the early “ nineties,” when considerable quantities of rye-grass seed passed through the stores. At the present time what was then regarded as a side-line has developed into an organized industry, with extensive, machining plants at Gore and Invercargill. Approximately 30 per cent.' of the New Zealand acreage under seed crops belongs to Southland,and the province produces 30 to 35 per cent, (approximately 4,500 tons) of the total New Zealand output. RYE-GRASSES. ' j In the 1926-27. season in Southland 42,082 acres were under rye--grass for seed, the production being 3,028 tons, or nearly 40 per cent, of the Dominion total.' Perennial rye-grass is a most important species in Southland, and under the better pasture-management of to-day much of the richer land of the province is carrying first-class swards of it which are improving with the increase in fertility following on top-dressing. In the past the local demand for seed has been extensive, but with' the increasing permanency of pastures this local requirement has diminished, and more seed has been available for distribution to the North Island and for export. It is'upon the export demand that the industry depends for its development, and ' growers may rest assured ■ that this demand is dependent to a large extent on the quality of the product. The principal overseas buyers are Australia, Great Britain, and the United States of America.

CHEWINGS FESCUE.

The production of Chewings fescue is almost wholly confined to Southland, where in the 1926-27 season 9,108 acres produced more than 940 tons of seed. Chewings fescue was introduced into Southland in the late “ seventies,” and was grown by a Mr. Tarlton near Invercargill. The seed saved was taken by him and sown on a farm at Mossburn, which district, together with the Waimea Plains, has become the centre of the production area. The Mossburn property was later purchased by the late Mr. George Chewings, who was responsible for the initial commercializing of the seed.

The New Zealand requirement for this seed is now small, and practically the whole of the output is available for export. In 1926

nearly 700 tons was exported, over half being absorbed by the United States, where it is in great demand for lawns and golf-links turfing purposes. The value of this trade in 1926 was estimated at £61,500.

Some of the Che wings fescue is put down with rye-grass, but although this may be advantageous from a grazing point of view it is not to the best advantage for seed-cropping, as the rye-grass seriously affects the purity of the fescue. The more common practice is to sow the fescue alone at about 12 lb. to 14 lb. per acre. The pasture is grazed in the first season and seeded in the second, this being followed by a second grazing until August, when the areas are rejuvenated by skim-ploughing. In some localities up to seven and eight crops are taken off before skim-ploughing, but this is inadvisable, as the plants lose vitality, to the detriment of the seed crop. Under the best conditions the maiden crops should be limited to three.

Top-dressing is now carried out on many areas with beneficial results, both from a grazing and .seed-production viewpoint. Experience has demonstrated that the greater the vitality shown by the plants the higher will be the vitality of the seed produced. Chewings fescue is a delicate seed and quickly affected by adverse conditions therefore lines with a high vitality are more easily able to withstand unsuitable storage conditions, &c. It is thus very advisable that growers should produce a thoroughly matured seed from strong-growing plants. Maturity is intimately associated with vitality in all seeds, and the more mature the seed is allowed to become before it is removed from the parent plant the greater are its storage capabilities, weight, and general quality. CRESTED DOGSTAIL. . In the 1926-27 season Southland produced approximately 520 tons, or 80 per cent., of the New Zealand output of dogstail. The principal areas of production are in the Gore district, but nearly all parts of the province grow dogstail in varying amounts. A small proportion of the seed is saved from permanent pasture, but the bulk is taken off areas specially sown at the rate of 14 lb. to 18 lb. per acre. As is the case with rye-grass and Chewings fescue, the crop is usually cut with the reaper - and - binder, but the stripper is used to some extent, especially on sheep-pastures. ' •

The Dominion requirements for dogstail-seed are considerable, but there is also a considerable surplus for export, which is absorbed mainly by Britain. In 1926 over 100 tons, valued at £20,000, was exported.. Like Chewings fescue, crested-dogstail seed suffers from a deterioration in germination during shipment overseas. This, it is held, is due to low vitality of the seed following incomplete maturity or production from weakened plants ; and seed of a poor vitality is unable to withstand the extremely unsuitable storage conditions existing in most cargo-holds. The trouble has been remedied to some extent by the growers allowing .the crop to stand as long as possible before harvesting, so that the seed may almost fully mature. The lightgolden colour of the seed, so popular with ■ Southern growers and merchants, is a sure indication of immaturity, and the aim of. the grower should be the dark-bronzy colour of thoroughly ripe dogstail. Unlike rye-grass, which requires a hot, dry harvest, dogstail and Chewings

fescue both benefit from cooler moist conditions prior and subsequently to cutting, so that the seed may be prevented from rushing to an apparent ripeness before it is properly matured. BROWN-TOP. Southland has only recently taken up brown-top seed production, which until a few years ago was confined to the Waipu district of Auckland Province. There are many areas of pure brown-top in Southland where, until the specific identity of the grass was known, it was allowed to seed and go to waste. Previously known locally as couch and twitch, brown-top is now systematically seeded in quantity, a very'fine quality seed being produced. All seed is fully dressed, and compares more than favourably a germination and purity viewpoint particularly the brown-top from any other district. Considerable quantities are absorbed within the Dominion, and in 1926 approximately 25 tons, valued at £7,000, was exported, mainly to the United States. Brown-top is harvested in the same manner as other grasses. Some growers cut the crop far too early, in which case the seed is practically useless. The ripening crop is deceptive, appearing ripe when far from it. For harvesting,' the plants should be nearly dry, and the seed not quite on the point of loosening in the glume. WHITE CLOVER. It is only of recent years that white clover has been seeded in any quantity in Southland. Last season 185 acres were devoted to this crop, 21,160 lb. of seed being produced. The Southland seed is taken mainly off permanent pasture, and is usually of the wild white type. With the more extensive use of lime and artificial fertilizers the clover content of pastures in the province is increasing, and there will be no doubt an increasing amount of seed saved. The success of the New Zealand white clover seed trade is dependent upon an export demand, which demand should increase materially with the introduction of a system of crop inspection and certification of genuine old pasture types. LOTUS MAJOR. A fair amount of Lotus major is produced in the province. The seed, mainly in the Mokoreta and Waiau districts, is usually of splendid quality and entirely free from other species of Lotus. Some growers appear to cut well on the green side, as is evidenced by the high percentage of brown shrivelled seeds in a few lines. The quantity placed on the market would be about 8 to 10 tons. TIMOTHY. A small quantity of timothy-seed of splendid quality is saved by one or two growers. It is regrettable that there is not more produced, so that our annual importation of approximately 100 tons might be reduced. - . COCKSFOOT. Cocksfoot is very widely distributed in Southland, but the acreage actually set aside for seeding is small, and the total amount of seed

saved runs from 30,000 lb. to 40,000 lb. annually. Unlike that of several other districts in New Zealand, the local cocksfoot-seed does not' seem to be looked upon with much favour. Our annual importation of some 800 tons of cocksfoot could be reduced by at least 100 tons were much of' the wasting ..cocksfoot saved throughout' the Dominion. There are many obviously valuable close leafy strains in the Southland pastures which doubtless could be propagated with advantage, but until the value of the different strains is actually demonstrated and appreciated the locally grown seed is not likely to be in marked demand. THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT. ' From a commercial aspect Southland is one of the most important seed-production districts in New Zealand, and a large amount of capital has been expended in stores and machine-cleaning plants. Seed is purchased by merchants as farmers' dressed direct from the mill, or it is dressed at so-much per pound on behalf of the grower, who then offers it as M/D’ or machine-dressed. In either case a sample is submitted for test, so that the buyer can fully assess and place a value on a line under offer.

The importance of purity and germination is becoming better recognized, and these factors are now relied upon to a greater extent than are the older quality-factors and colour. These, of course) cannot be ignored, but they are secondary to the purity and germination factors. That the importance of these tests is recognized is shown by the fact that during 1927 over 30 per cent. (3,377) of the samples received at the official Seed-testing Station came from Southland.