HOW TO BUY GOOD GRASS SEED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 51, 31 May 1950, Page 4

HOW TO BUY GOOD GRASS SEED

Questions & Answers (By E. R. Marryatt, Field Instruc-

tor, Whakatane)

Question: Should I buy as a mixture or as separate quantities of each species? Answer: The disadvantages of buying as a mixture are:—(a) The allegedly “cheap” ready-made mixture is usually dear, at any price because it is likely to be cleanings from a dressing plant and will contain some good seed and some bad seed and probably quite a good deal which is neither good nor bad but still not good enough to sow. (b) The made-to-order mixture loses the protection of Certification. ’ There is no guarantee here that you will receive what jyou ordered, (c) Where a mixture is subjected to much handling or long travelling particularly if over poor roads, there is a definite tendency for the “shottier” seed like subterranean clover, Phalaris tuberosa and timothy to work to the bottom of the bags and re-mixing is then advisable. (d) You have little check on what and on how ?r.uch has been put in or left out. (e) It may be the easiest way tobuy seed but it is not businesslike. The advantages of buying species separately and of mixing them yourself:—(a) By insisting on receiving sealed bags you have the guarantee of receiving what you ordered or at least of being sure of what you receive, (b) Because you will mix the seed yourself you will know what is in the mixture and how well it is mixed. Mixing on the farm is not difficult, (c) Lastrninute deletions may be made from the mixture, (d) It is just as easy to buy seed in this way and it is really businesslike. *