CERTIFIED MAIZE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 100, 28 February 1947, Page 5

CERTIFIED MAIZE

COUNTY COUNCIL’S CRITICISM SELECTIVE METHODS UNSATISFACTORY Strong criticism of the laxity exercised in the selection of Government approved seed maize was voiced by members of the Whakatane County Council when in response to a protest from that body the Department of Agriculture forwarded what was classed by speakers as a totally unsatisfactory explanation. The question of proper selective methods being employed for certified maize seed is an all-important one for the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay areas where maize-frow-ing has assumed substantial proportions over the past 20 years. Department’s Explanation The Department’s letter stated:— Full enquiries had been made into the circumstances surrounding the release by the Department of Government Approved Seed Maize. This seed was produced under contract to the Department from seed carefully selected and the area in which it was grown was selected to eliminate any risk of pollen being introduced from an outside source. The cobs were not topped and tailed before shelling for the only benefit to be derived from this practice is to produce a more uniform grain sample but as the shape of the individual grain is influenced by its position on the cob and not in this case by heredity, the expense involved in topping and .tailing was considered unjustified. The seed certainly contained more discoloured grains than one would wish to see. This was not due to flooding but to the inclusion of immature cobs, resulting from the harvesting of the crop with a maize picker. It was recognised that the harvesting and seed cleaning methods adopted last year were not wholly satisfactory but steps would be taken to see that next year’s supply of Government Approved Seed Maize will be improved in appearance. Councillors declared that growers throughout the district had been far from satisfied and that the only recognised method of selecting seed was to top and tail the cobs which had been picked in order to avoid the inferior seed. It was useless to do it otherwise.

The greatest exception was taken by Cr Hunter who pointed out that unless this precaution had been taken growers were simply sold ordinary crib maize at 26/- per bushel when the ruling market rate was 7/6. He blamed the Department entirely and considered an emphatic protest should be entered. It was decided to reply to the effect that the council was very dissatisfied with the Department’s reply and that it considered the only way to ensure certified' fertility of seed was by careful selection and by topping and tailing the cobs. It was also decided to protest to the Maize Marketing Committee, Gisborne, along the same lines.