SEED SELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1733, 25 April 1913, Page 8

SEED SELECTION.

ADVICE BY AN EXPERT.

Dealing with the question of tht> proper selection of seed for pastures; before' a meeting of Featlierston tanners, Mr. A. H. Cockayne, of tho Department of Agriculture, strongly advocated the advisableness of; farmers : getting their 6eed tested as to germination and freedom from noxious weeds, before they sowed dojsvn pastures. New Zealand double machinedressed rye as a rule lyas free from noxious weeds, but. Alsyke was very often tho mean's of spreading Californian thistle. It. would only take farmers about four days to get a germination report from, the Government 1 Department if they sent down their seed to be tested, except cocksfoot, which took about fourteen days. ■ -.

■ Several. question were asked him by farmers at the close* of his address. ■ In his replies he said (1) that he believed in the top-dressing of youn» pastures with slag to bring on the white' ''(2)! -there are about 80 species of native grass indigenojis to New Zealand, but of very to the farmer; (3) Pennyroyal is an indication that the land wants lime or, where possible -draining; (4V-- grass grubs are always present, but if the grass is weakened by unfavourable conditions the' grub shows up worse; (5) New Zealand double machine-dressed seed is the cleanest in tho world, as no other co.untry has such efficient ' machinery -for dressing seed; (6) ; ryo grass very seldom has Californian thistle , seed mixed among it, the clovers occasionally, especially seed from Europe and > America, but Alyyko rogularly. ;