SEED CERTIFICATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 43, Issue 5, 20 November 1931, Page 343

SEED CERTIFICATION.

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS DURING SEASON 1930-31. Reported by J. W. Hadfield, Agronomist, and J. H. Claridge, Assistant in Agronomy, Department of Agriculture. A summary of operations in connection with seed certification undertaken during the 1930-31 season by officers of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture is here presented. The following seeds have been subject to certification during the past season : (1) New Zealand perennial rye-grass .. Certified Mother seed. Certified Permanent Pasture seed. Certified First Harvest seed. (2) New Zealand white clover . . Certified Old Pasture. (3) New Zealand brown-top .. . .. Certified free from red-top. (4) Seed wheat . . . . .. On a basis of varietal purity and freedom from disease. (5) Seed potatoes . . . . . . On a basis of varietal purity, croppingpower, and freedom from disease. (6) Seed beans . . . . . . On a basis of freedom from bean-wilt.

Perennial Rye-grass.

■Despite a considerable increase in the volume of work during last season, there has not been sufficient certified seed .to meet the local demand. It is, however, pleasing to report that a considerable amount of Mother seed has been distributed in the seed-producing districts of the South Island, and we may look forward to the production in the near future of sufficient seed to meet New Zealand requirements, and a reduction in price accompanied by an increased demand from overseas. Tables 1,2, and 3 summarize the position for 1930-31 as compared with that of the previous season.

In the past a special class called First Harvest seed has consisted of the produce from areas sown with Mother seed but from which no sample trial has been available. It has been decided to simplify the position by including all such seed in the permanent-pasture class, but, to allow differentiation, the tags and insert slips will have stamped thereon the words “ First Harvest seed.” There will then remain the two main classes of Mother seed and Permanent Pasture seed, but in certain cases the latter seed may be specially marked as “ First Harvest.” A similar procedure will be adopted with other grass and clover seeds.

White Clover.

During last season white clover seed harvested from pastures five years old or over, has been eligible for certification as “ Old Pasture.” Much of the seed has been derived from the dressings of rye-grass from old pastures, the rest being from areas closed up specifically for the production of white clover seed. These two sources are tabulated separately in Tables 4 and 5, and the totals in Table 6. The amount of certified white clover dressed out of rye-grass has increased from 8,000 lb. to 41,000 lb., but there has been a decrease from 60,700 lb. to 25,700 lb. in other seed.

The demand in the past has been for seed from old pastures, the assumption being that such seed would most likely represent a more permanent strain than that from young pastures. It has now been established that while some old pasture seed is of a very permanent leafy type, other pastures are old because conditions have been favourable for reseeding. There is in New Zealand a regional strain of great persistence and winter growth combined with abundant dense and leafy foliage. It is this strain which has no doubt been responsible for the overseas demand for New Zealand white clover. These

facts having been established, the Department has now decided to discontinue the “ hit or miss ” certification of old pasture, and substitute the certification of the regional strain, which, although representing only about 10 per cent, of the seed harvested, has been responsible for the popularity of New Zealand white clover abroad. . Certification of this strain under the name of “ N.Z. White Clover ” is to commence in 1932, and certification of “ Old Pasture ” will be discontinued.

Brown-top.

The bulk of our brown-top seed in the past has been exported to the United States of America, and it was anticipated that the introduction by that country of a tariff duty of 40 cents per pound would result in the amount of seed harvested being reduced to a fraction of what had been harvested in previous seasons. It is therefore satisfactory to note that seed is still being exported to the United States, markets have been opened up elsewhere, and there has been actually a slight increase in the total quantity of seed certified. On the other hand, there has probably been a considerable reduction in the production of non-certified seed. In Tables 7 and 8 will be found comparative figures of seed certified for the two seasons.

Seed Wheat.

Two important changes were introduced in connection with wheat certification during the season 1930-31. In the past certified seed wheat has been purchased by the Wheat Research Institute at a fixed premium above the value of milling-wheat. The seed has then been machine-dressed and sold to merchants. Last season samples of farmers’ dressed seed which reached the required standard were distributed to merchants, who then dealt direct with the grower. This has not in any way affected the application for inspection, and the acreage inspected has actually risen from approximately 2,300 in 1929-30 to 3,300 in 1930-31.

The second change has been the introduction of a fixed standard of varietal purity—-namely, 99-8 per cent. —and a similar standard in regard to freedom from loose and stinking smuts. This clause has resulted in heavy rejections in the field, so that the acreage passed is only half that of the previous season, and represents only 385 acres passed out of nearly 3,300 acres inspected.

Of the twenty-seven crops which passed field inspection, only seventeen were submitted for inspection of grain sample. Two of these crops (an area of 7 acres of Hunter’s and one of 3 acres of Solid-straw Tuscan) were rejected on the grain-sample submitted. Thus fifteen crops were finally passed and the produce branded in the field.

In addition to the 4,060 bushels of wheat which were tagged and sealed in 1930-31, a further 1,772 sacks (approximately 5,900 bushels) of seed were branded in the paddock. No application was made to have this tagged and sealed, and presumably it was not machine-dressed. Prices paid to farmers for field-dressed certified seed wheat ranged from ss. Bd. to 6s. 6d. per bushel in the case of Hunter’s, and ss. 3d. to 6s. in the case of Solid-straw Tuscan. Mr. H. B. Veitch, Government Grader, undertook on behalf of the Wheat Research Institute the work of inspecting grain, distributing

samples, and despatching particulars of each line to merchants. Mr. Veitch reports : “ The demand for certified seed Tuscan was fairly good, but merchants did not seem at all anxious to secure supplies, being of opinion that there would be plenty available. Actually, owing to heavy rejections at field inspection, the reverse was the case. So far as Hunter’s and other varieties were concerned, the demand appeared to fall off as compared with past seasons, but this may be accounted for by the uncertainty of prices. With regard to the scheme as worked in the past season, a few growers considered that the practice of paying a definite price to growers, as had been done in past seasons, should have been continued. So far as merchants were concerned, they appeared quite satisfied with the scheme once they had become thoroughly used to the methods, and so far as I am aware there were no complaints.” . (To be concluded next month with Seed Potatoes and Seed Beans.)

* These “ permanent pasture areas ” are subject to reclassification as “ Mother seed areas ” provided the sample trial report indicates a sufficiently high standard.

* See footnote to Table 1.

* See footnote to Table i. f Approximately.

* Dressed out of brown-top.

District. Mother Areas. Permanent Pasture Areas (Mother).* Permanent Pasture Areas. First Harvest Areas. Total Areas. Rejected Areas. Number. Acres. Number. Acres. Number. Acres. Number. Acres. Number. Acres. Number. Acres Poverty Bay .. 20 234 115 (20) 1,366 (235) 4 39 4 28 143 (20) 1,667 (235) 35 (30) 298 (406) Hawke’s Bay .. 70 832 157 (153) 1 , §9° (2,148) 23 198 28 261 278 (i53) (2,148) 49 (15) 460 (i75) Manawatu 4 46 3 67 7 413 Marlborough 2 14 0 14 North Canterbury 13 213 13 213 I 3 Mid-Canterbury. 3 29 3 29 2 10 South Canterbury 8 88 8 88 North Otago I 7 I "*7 Central Otago .. I 34 (2) (64) I (2) 34 (64) Otago 13 345 13 345 I 13 Southland 5 64 5 64 . Total 20 70 234 832 115 (20) 157 (153) 4 1,366 (235) '1,890 (3,148) 46 4 23 1 39 198 34 4 28 3 13 ■ 3 8 1 (2) 13 5 28 261 67 14 213 29 88 7 (64) 345 64 143 (20) 278 (i53) 7 1.3 8 I I (2) 13 5 1,667 (235) 3,i8i (2,148) 213 14 213 29 88 34 (64) 345 64 35 (30) 49 (15) I I 298 (406) 460 (i75) . 3 10 13 90 1,066 276 (173) 3,302 (2,383) 28 271 80 1, 116 474 (175) 5,755 (2,447) ' 88 (45) 784 (581)

Table 1. —Perennial Rye-grass Field Inspection Results, 1930-31. (Figures in parentheses refer to season 1929-30; this applies to all tables where such figures occur.)

District. Mother Areas. Permanent Pasture Areas (Mother.)* Permanent Pasture Areas First Harvest Acres. Total Areas. Acres. Sacks. Acres. Sacks. Acres. Sacks. Acres . Sacks. Acres. Sacks. Poverty Bay 225 404 1,267 2,062 • 2,062 (321) 39 87 20 66 i,55i 2,619 (321) Hawke’s Bay 691 1,922 1,782 4,868 (5,727) 180 639 250 1,486 2,903 . 8,915 01 05 « *2 (5,727) Manawa tn 26 144 67 375 93 519 Marlborough 14 69 14 69 North Canterbury. . 213 1,205 213 1,205 South Canterbury. . 86 ; 361 86 361 North Otago ■ 7 89 7 89 Central Otago 34 128 (64) (247) 34 (64) 128 (247) Otago .. .. 325 1,268 325 1,268 Southland 64 414 64 414 Total 916 2,326 3,075 7,074 (6,048) 253 854 1,046 (64) 5,333 (247) 5,290 15,587 (6,295)

Table 2.—Perennial Rye-grass Acreage Harvested and Sacks sealed in the Field, Season 1930—31.

Class of Seed. Into Machines. Out of Machines. Loss per Cent. Yield per Acre, in Bushels. Sacks. Sacks. | Bushels. Loss per Cent. Yield per Acre, in Bushels. Sacks. Bushels. \ Bushels. Sacks. Bushels. Mother Seed— Poverty Bay ’ .. Hawke’s Bay .. .. 264 i,535 1,916'6 9,252-6 161 636 1,232-6 5,072-3 35’7 45-2 7’9 9-2 Total 1,799 11,169-2 797 6,304-9 43’6 ' 9-0 Permanent Pasture (Mother) ■ Seed* —• Poverty Bay .. .. Hawke’s Bay .. Manawatu 912 3,635 144 K 6,302-85 (1,267) 22,745 (30,405) 694-8 450 1,840 56 ■ 3,504 . (736) 14,434-4 (15,754) 421-6 44'4 (42-o) 36-5 (48) 39'4 6-3 (5-o) io-8 (8’7) 16-2 Total 4,691 29,742-7 (.31,672) 2,346 18,360 (16,490) 38-3 (47-9) 9-6 Permanent Pasture Seed — Poverty Bay .. Hawke’s Bay .. Central Otago ' 98 57i 128 700 3,558-45 625-65 55 277 61 454-3 2,184-9 484-75 35-2 38-6 22-5 10-7 13-5 .14-2 Total ’ 264 i,535 1,916-6 9,252-6 161 636 1,232-6 5,072-3 35’7 45-2 7'9 9-2 i,799 11,169-2 797 6,304-9 43-6 ' 9-0 912 3,635 144 6,302-85 (1,267) 22,745 (30,405) 694-8 450 1,840 56 3,504 (736) 14,434’4 (15,754) 421-6 44’4 (42'0) 36-5 (48) 39’4 6-3 (5-o) io-8 (8’7) 16-2 4,691 29,742-7 (31,672) 2,346 18,360 (16,490) 38-3 (47-9) 9-6 98 571 128 700 3,558-45 625-65 55 277 61 454’3 2,184-9 484-75 35'2 38-6 22-5 10-7 13-5 .14-2 797 ,884-1 393 3,123-95 36-3 13-2

Class of Seed. Into Machines. ■ Out of Machines. - Loss per Cent. Yield per Acre, in Bushels. Sacks. Bushels. Sacks. Bushels. First Harvest Seed Poverty Bay .. 63 375'55 25 182-35 51'4 9-6 Hawke’s Bay .. 1,418 8,525'35 75i 5,849-i 31-6 24'5 Manawatu .. ... 375 1,981-15 134 1,036-95 47'7 15'5 Marlborough .. 69 53i 54 376 29-2 26-8 North Canterbury I ,200 6,728-25 608 4,631-6 31-2 21-8 South Canterbury 361 2,ooof 162 1,110-35 44'6 12*9 North Otago .. 89 483-55 55 380 21-3 54-3 Central Otago. 63 375*55 25 75i 134 54 608 162 55 (81) (562-25) (8-8) Otago 44i 1,217 5,2I2t 44i 2,893-5 44-5 9-2 Southland 244 182-35 5,849-1 1,036-95 376 4,631-6 r,no-35 380 (562-25) 2,893-5 414 1,733'95 51'4 31-6' 47-7 29-2 31-2 44'6 21-3 44-5 2,182-55 20-7 9-6 24’5 15-5 26-21-8 12-9 54-3 (8'8) 9-2 244 271,418 375 69 1,200 361 89 8,525-35 1,981-15 531 6,728-25 2,OOOf 483-55 Otago .. Southland .. .. 1,733'95 20-7 27-1 Total 1,217 4*4; . 5,212t . 2,l82-55 5,206 28,019-4 2,474 (81) 18,193-8 (562-25) 35’2 17-8 (8-8) Grand total .. 12,493 73,815-4 . 6,010 45,982-65 (17,052-25) 37-7 n-9

Table 3.-Perennial Rye-grass Machine-dressing Returns, Season 1930-31.

District. Areas. Acreage. Into MachinedreSser. Machine-dressed Seed. Percentage of Loss in Dressing. Quantity. Yield per Acre. Poverty Bay I 9 lb. 794 lb. 278 lb. 30-9 65-0 Hawke’s Bav .. I 10 2,139 - I , 004 100-4 53' 2 Nelson .. I. 9 609 566 62-7 7-2 Marlborough 3 31 6,383 5,337 I7I-5 16-7 North Canterbury 14 229 19,899 16,344 71-4 17-7 Central Otago ■1 23 2,634 2,239 97'3 15-0 Total 21 3ii ,458 25 ,768 82-7 20'7 (664) . (89,691) . . (60,747). (9i-5) (32-4) ■

Table 4. —White Clover certified ”Old Pasture” from Areas closed specifically for Harvesting of White Clover Seed, Season 1930-31.

District. Areas. Into Machine-dresser. Machinedressed Seed. Percentage of Loss in : Dressing. Poverty Bay .. . . . Hawke’s Bay 29 III lb. 8,500 (approx.) 70.625 lb. 4. 8 59 36,511 42-8 48-3 Total . . . .. 29 • III lb. ' ' 8,500 (approx.) 70,625 lb. 4.859 36,511 42-8 48-3 140 79,125 41.370 (8,268) 477

Table 5.- White Clover certified "Old Pasture” dressed out of Machine Dressings of Rye-grass Seed, Season 1930-31.

District. Number of Areas certified. . Quantity of Seed machine-dressed and certified. . Poverty Bay .. .. 30 lb. 5037 Hawke’s Bav. . .. ■ ' . . .112 37,515 Nelson .... I 566 Marlborough . . .. .. 3 5,337 North Canterbury .. 14 16,344 Central Otago .. .. .. 1 2,239 Southland .. .. I 104* Total .. 162 67,242 = 30 tons. (79,610 = 35I tons.)

Table 6.—Total Yield of White Clover certified “Old Pasture,” Season 1930-31.

. District. Passed. Harvested. Rejected. Number of Areas. Acreage. Number of Areas. Acreage. Number of Areas. Acreage. Mid-Canterbury . . II 2,090 II 2,090 South Canterbury 25 5-5°9 22 4,409 Otago .. 70 9,533 44 6,280 Southland . . . . ■ 77 7,769 55 5,734 4 106 Total 183 (154) 24,901 ,000) . 132 19,513 4 (24) 106

Table 7.- Brown-top Certification, Season 1930—31.

. District. Number of Sacks harvested. Into Machine-dresser. Machine-dressed Seed. Percentage of Loss in Machinedressing. Sacks. Lb. Sacks. Lb. Mid-Canterbury 1,062 1,048 ' 79.655 304 45,103 (ml) 43'3 South Canterbury 581 553 42245 211 29,260 (1,113) 30-7 Otago. . 828 ■ 812 64,926 369 49,109 (?) 24’3 (35-o) Southland 736 7i4 66,280 348 47,411 (?) 26-8 (37-o) . Totals 3.207 3.127 253.106 1,232 171,083 ■ (170,071) 253,106 32-4 I , 232 171,083 (170,071) (?) 32-4 (?)

Table 8.—Brown-top Seed harvested and machine-dressed, Season 1930-31.

Variety. Number of . Areas inspected. Acreage inspected. Number of inspected. Number of Areas passed. Acreage passed. passed. Solid-straw Tuscan 76 2,178 (1,610) 9 129 (490) Hunter’s . . '. 44 894 (584) - 8 139 (190) Velvet . . . . 6 85 (25) 3 28 (5) Dreadnought 2 13 (5) 2 13 (5) Marquis 2 36 (20) ■ 2 36 (20) Garnet 2 24 (25) ' 1 12 (20) Solid-straw Velvet . . I 16 (5) 1 16 (5) Yeoman . . . . 1 12 (1) 1 12 . (1) Purple-straw Tuscan I 14 Major .. .. 1 1 14 17 "(2) Totals 136 3,289 (2,277) 27 385 (736)

Table 9. —Seed-wheat Certification: Number of Areas and Acreage inspected and passed in the Field, Season 1930-31. (Figures in parentheses are acreages inspected and passed in the 1929-30 season.)

Solid-straw Tuscan Hunter’s .. Velvet . . Dreadnought Marquis Garnet . . Solid-straw Velvet Yeoman Totals Variety. Ln Areas passed. H H H .H H H Areas . passed. to to CD O Acreage passed. 00 Co o to Number of Fielddressed. h to to H Ln QiCD CD tO CD CD O O OUi I0U1X1 Sacks. Bushels. j Seed into Machinedresser. s ■A Ln to to Co Ch OJ co h O>Ln Ln Ln O Ch . Sacks. Seed into Machinedresser. O 4- M -4 <O to to OLn h 00 h to ~O> 4 04 OCD Ln O CD Sacks. Seed out of Machinedresser. O q o to o tO m CD O\ OLD Ln m OM Ln CD %0 4 hh Ln O O CD O CZ) q Ln Ln b 0 4 VI OC/i Bushels. to M H H H H to Ln Ln Cd Ln CO 4x cd LD 10 Ln <1 Ln VI Percentage of Loss during Machinedressing. iO tO “41 H Ch Co m Co Ch Ln -4 h CO OCOtOChOHO\Ch AO M -4 M kO Bushels. to to Ch Ln h kO kO h to ChCD Ln kO Co Sacks. Seed out of Machinedresser. o '■ ov■ o ■ VO . 0 to 10 m Co Ch Ch Co Ln w Ch'Ll Ln CO 00 O h Ln k0 O Co O 00 O Ln Ln ti C C 4 6> Ln Bushels. to H. H H H M to Ln Ln CO Ln 00 Cd Co tO Ln M Ln M Percentage of Loss during Machinedressing. Ch

Table 10.-Seed Wheat branded in the Paddock and Quantities of Seed Machinedressed, Season 1930-31.

Variety. Quantity machine-dressed and sealed. 1930-31. 1929-30. Bushels. Bushels. Solid-straw Tuscan I >54°’5 II, 006 Hunter’s ' . . . . ■ . . .98-6 4,106 Velvet. . . . . . 380-7 216 Dreadnought .. 633-9 220 Marquis . . .. . . 650 • 9 400 Garnet . . . . . . 379’2 Solid-straw Velvet .. ■ ■■..■ 165-55 213 Yeoman . . . . 211-55 . 36 Totals . . 4,060-90 16,197

Table 11. —Quantity of Certified Seed Wheat machine-dressed and sealed in 1930-31 Season, compared with 1929—30 Season.