SEED CERTIFICATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 54, Issue 1, 20 January 1937, Page 43

SEED CERTIFICATION.

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS FOR SEASON 1935-36.

J. H Claridge,

Certification Officer, Fields Division, Wellington.

The seed certification controlled by the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture has now been in operation for a period of nine years. This report'covers the activities during the 1935-36 season. While no major amendments to the work were made during the period under review, the certification of Phalaris tuberose/, seed was introducedThe development of the production under certification of supplies of pedigree grass and clover seed has been a feature of the season’s activities, while for the first time an appreciable quantity of rape-seed was accepted for certification. . A further increase in the total entries accepted for 1935-36 season, amounting to 30 per cent., has brought the number of crops under certification to the total of over 3,000. This increase has been attributable in the main .to a phenomenal increase in entries for seed-wheat certification, and also to quite considerable increases in the entries received in connection with perennial rye-grass and seedpotatoes. Government Pedigree Stock Seeds. , One area of perennial rye-grass, and several areas of white clover, sown with specially selected nucleus stock seed, were grown on contract by the Department during the. 1935-36 season, the produce of these areas being accepted for certification as “ Government Pedigree Stock ” seed. A heavy yield of perennial rye-grass seed was obtained, and the complete harvest, amounting to 800 bushels, was readily disposed of through trade channels. It was unfortunate that the season for white-clover-seed harvesting was very unfavourable, as only two of the. areas could be ' saved for seed, and from these very small quantities of seed were obtained.. On account of the short supply many orders for this seed remained unfilled. It is expected that larger quantities of both perennial rye-grass and white-clover, seed will be available from the coming harvest for distribution during June next. Perennial Rye-grass. The entries into certification in the “ mother ” and “ permanent pasture ” classes were, in general, slightly lower than in the 1934-35 season except in the Hawke’s Bay district, where the number of entries' increased by 100. On. the other hand, a complete year’s activities' relative to the “ commercial ” class of seed accounted for the examination of 525 lines of seed, representing a somewhat similar number of areas. Over 100,000 bushels of seed (40 per cent, of the ■ total quantity certified) was accepted in this class. The total quantity of perennial rye-grass seed certified during the 1935-36 season (279,000 bushels) is 50 per cent, in excess of the 1934-35 total, and is the greatest quantity yet certified in any one season. It is estimated that over the last three seasons approximately one-third of the perennial rye-grass seed harvested in New Zealand has received official recognition under the certification scheme.

Cocksfoot.

There has been little alteration in the quantity of cocksfoot seed ■certified in the 1935-36 season, a lower acreage harvested being almost offset by an increase in the yield per acre. In all, 657,000 lb. of machine-dressed seed was sealed and tagged as “ certified, ’ two-thirds of this quantity being produced on the Akaroa Peninsula by members ■of. the Akaroa Cocksfoot Seed Growers' Association. Practically the whole of the remaining seed was ■ harvested from the mid-Canterbury ■district. It is very noticeable that little of the seed certified as mother ” is. being used in the establishment - of new areas for further seedproduction. Most .of : the seed certified is the produce of olderestablished areas. . . ' White Clover. • ' , ; The 1935-36 season was exceedingly unfavourable in so far as the ■white-clover harvest was concerned. As a result, fewer areas were harvested, while the yield .per,, acre was also reduced considerably. A total of 56,000 lb. of machine-dressed seed was certified, as compared with 96,000 lb. during the 1934-35 season. J , . Brown-top. While the acreage entered for brown-top certification has remained ■fairly constant, the yield of seed obtained in the season just concluded has shown a considerable reduction. Only 362,000 lb. of seed was finally sealed, as compared with 634,000 lb. during the 1934-35 season. , : . Red Clover. , As with white clover, seasonal conditions had an adverse effect on. the production of certified Montgomery red-clover seed. A reduction in the acreage harvested as compared with the 1934-35 season, together with a yield reduced from 156 lb. per acre to 119 lb. per acre, has resulted in a reduction in the total produce certified from 32,000 lb. to 23,500 lb. In addition, the sample produced has not been as bright in colour as in past seasons. . There , has, however, been no difficulty in regard to the disposal of all seed harvested under certification, and it appears that a good export trade in this seed might reasonably be expected. . ■ Italian Rye-grass. The certification of Italian rye-grass seed has, in its second season of operation, progressed very satisfactorily. Of thirty-one areas entered, twenty-eight passed field inspection, producing 2,500 sacks of fielddressed seed. Quite a considerable portion of this seed (mostly .that •certified in the commercial class) was not machine-dressed, so the. total of 6,600 bushels of machine-dressed seed rather understates the position. The average yield of this seed was 291 bushels per acre.

Certified Italian rye-grass seed is meeting with a very favourable reception both in this country and in Australia, where quite a demand has already been created. It is confidently anticipated that the amount of Italian rye-grass seed coming under certification may be increased very many times without fear of exceeding the demand.

Phalaris Tuberosa.

Phalaris tuber is recognized as a very valuable grass for certain, localities in Australia, but a drawback to its wider use is the high price of seed. Last season an attempt was made to produce -seed in New Zealand under certification. Seasonal conditions were not of the best, and the seed crop in respect of two of the areas was a failure. From a. third area. 2,500 lb. of seed was obtained from 6 acres, which indicatesthat the prospect in regard to the production of Phalaris tuberosa seed is quite hopeful. . .■ Wheat. The acreage under wheat certification during the 1935-36 season wasmore than double that of the previous season. Entries were confined, almost entirely to four varieties Solid Straw Tuscan, Cross 7, Hunter’s 11, and Dreadnought. Twenty-five thousand bushels of . certified seed 'wheat were sealed and tagged during the 1935-36 season, while a further 10,000 bushelsof seed from certified crops was passed at grain inspection, but not submitted for machine-dressing. The rapid dissemination of seed of the Cross 7 variety which has taken place in the last two seasons is very striking ; and emphasizes the value, of seed certification in the speedy distribution'of; superior stocks of a new variety. In 1933-34 one small area of Cross 7 was under certification while in 1934-35 the number had increased to six crops. In 1935-36 season 105 crops, comprising 1,600 acres, were entered. Approximately half this area was accepted for certification, and 10,000 bushels of machine-dressed seed were sealed and tagged in this the third season during which seed of this variety hasbeen available commercially. Seed Potatoes. 1 Entries into potato certification have continued to increase, 686 cropshaving been inspected in the 1935-36 season, as compared with 513 cropsin the 1934-35 season. The percentage of crops to reach certification, standard (89-7, per cent.) is the highest on record, having increased’from 56-4 per' cent, in the 1932-33 season. . Over 2,800 tons of potatoes, the produce of certified crops, were inspected after grading and accepted as finally certified seed. ’ - Figures recently published in the Monthly Abstract of Statistics indicate that throughout the whole of New Zealand the yield from certified seed during 1936 was tons per acre (25 per cent.) higher than where uncertified seed had been planted. This independent estimate, based on figures returned to the Statistican by farmers themselves, indicates the true worth of certified seed potatoes., ; Brassica Crops. Four areas of rape, two each of Giant and Broad Leaf Essex type, were sown out in 1935 with seed raised at the Plant-Research Station. These areas, "comprising 31 acres, were harvested in the 1935-36 season, the produce, amounting to 24,500 lb., being accepted as certified seed. This is the first time that rape-seed has been available to farmers in New Zealand with any reliable assurance as to the type of rape which is being

purchased. The additional benefit of freshness is a further factor for consideration in the purchase of this seed. In addition, the yieldingcapacity of the strains of seed to be distributed in coming seasons is superior to that of commercial samples, so that there is every reason to believe that purchasers of rape-seed will avail themselves of this article locally produced under certification. General. In the accompanying table are recorded the quantities of the various seeds certified since the inauguration of certification in 1927, together with an estimate of the value of seeds certified in each season. Attention is drawn to the fact that this table includes only seed in a machinedressed or graded condition, and does not include seed harvested but not submitted for machine-dressing, or, in the case of potatoes, seed not submitted for tuber inspection. Persons or firms interested in the complete tabulated results may obtain copies of these on application to the Director, Fields Division, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.

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Seed. Certification upon is certified. Seed Quantities 1927-28. 1 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. 1932-33-1933-34. 1934-35-1035-36. 1927-28. 1928-29. 1929-30. 1930-31. 1931-32. 1932-33-1933-34. 1934-35. 1035-36. Potatoes Wheat clover ryegrass Brown-top Cocksfoot Red clover Brassicas . . Italian y grass Philaris tuberosa Tons and disease from and and Lb. of ; Age clover, Genuine . type from palustris) .. as Peninsula Type red freedom .Varietal purity disease A - rapid showing type, recovery cutting species . 217 3,840 249 682 , io,595 5ii 16,714 69,015 17,052 170,071 760 4,060* 67,242 45,982 171,083 818 283* 1, 6,131* 186 , 198,343 720 1,550 938 7 33,731 245,667 138,843 622,765 3,763 1,806 6,012 20,337 119,019 978 200,560 17,263 22,515 1,821 11,110 93,381 386 384,588 7. 32,193 522 5,121 823 25,646 56,092 279,305 212,734 657,319 620 24,503 6,669 701 , seeds . Estimated finally 070 £4,889 '£40,048 £57,358. £142,585 £79,oi8 £154,725 £184,501 £57,358 £142,585 £79,oi8 £154,725 £184,501

Table Graph Quantities of each seed certified and Estimate of the total Value of each seed certified in each season