PURE SEEDS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16424, 18 January 1919, Page 3

PURE SEEDS.

AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.

(smcui. to "the press.")

WANGANUI, January 17.

A matter of great importance was discussed by the Wanganni Chamber of Commerce, when a • letter was received from Mr C. H. Hewlett, president of the Canterbury Grain and Seed Merchants' Association, replying to certain suggestions made by Mr Gregor McGjregor, Of Wanganui, in regard to germination and purity of seeds he had sent to them. Mr Hewlett considered that though Mr # McGregor's suggestions wero theoretically excellent, there wero insuperable difficulties. The sowing and harvesting seasons of tho North and South Islands respectively bcing_ so close were tremendous hurdles. 1 he_ best advice to farmers was to deal with reliable firms. A discussion followed a letter from tho Minister of Agriculture, who stated'-that..'"tlie matter of pure. seeds would bo gone into with a view of drafting a Bill to deal with it. The points submitted by tho Wanganui Chamber of Commerce would receive full consideration. • Mr McGregor ..in a letter' said ho failed to see what bearing ;tlie sowing and haivesting seasons, of the North and South Islands had to do with it. He could prove by tests made by- the Agricultural Department that so-called reliable firms—some of them the oldest in the Dominion—judging by-the prices and quality of their seeds, knew little or nothing of their v value/, that is, the true value of germination and purity. In several cases seeds of high germination and purity are soldat a lower price—considerably lower— than those of low germination and purity. Tho countij was getting full of noxious weeds, simply through the inefficiency of the Agricultural Department. There was no other word for it. Personally, he had gone into the matter for twenty years. It would be a simple matter for the grower of seed to submit it to an expert biologist. There wore experts in" the oountry 1 whoso services could be secured free of cost, and it was a fault 'if expert opinion was not consulted. If the purity and germination of seed wero ascertained, farmers would know what they ware sowing. The whole seed business was haphazard. Farmers probably sowed 25 to 301b of seed to the acre; and in some instances they did not sow 151b of seed of proper gerininative value. This was tho cause of poor pastures, in tlic bush country a serious matter, because when sowed once it was bad pasture for all time. It was time the seed business was put on a proper footing. There was a Seeds Control Bill—but it did not go far enough. Under the present legislation farmers would liavo a remedy against merchants, but it, would simplify matters if seeds wero bought and sold on an ascertained value, just the same ns milk was sold.

After a discussion it was decided to forward Mr McGregor's communication on to the Cantcrbui'y Grain and Se«.d Merchants' Association.