LONG BEFORE COOK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20068, 14 October 1939, Page 14

LONG BEFORE COOK

RYEGRASS ORIGIN POVERTY BAY STRAIN PERENNIAL SPECIES HISTORICAL REVIEW SEED IN EARLY DAYS Although the origin of Poverty Bay ryegrass is obscure, it is believed to have been in the district long before the landing of Captain Cook on his voyage of discovery to New Zealand in 1769. An investigation into the matter was carried out recently by members of tiie Gisborne Young Farmers’ Club. They found no record of the origin of Poverty Bay ryegrass, which from the earliest days held a very high reputation not only in New Zealand but overseas, but there seems little doubt that the grass was flourishing in the district long before the coming of the first white man.

Inquiries were made among the oldest Maoris of the district, and they maintained that for a long time before the landing of Captain Cook the grass had gained a very strong hold on the flat country.

In endeavouring to account for the presence of the grass, the natives suggested that an extinct migratory bird, the whioi, had brought the seed from some country far across the sea. This was a singing bird and, like the lark, nested on the ground. Recognition of the high value of the ryegrass in Poverty Bay came very early in the colonisation effort, and tufts were taken to Hawke’s Bay, where the grass was established, and no doubt these early experimental plantings played an important part in building up the Hawke's Bay ryegrass pastures. Ideal Conditions Ideal conditions ■ prevailed in Poverty Bay for the development of the perennial qualities of the ryegrass, which also established a reputation for being able to withstand rigorous grazing under dry conditions. It will outgrow any other grass. Most severe grazing was undertaken on the fiats in the very early days. The flat country was badly drained, and in the winter when the sheep were brought down on to the flats and grazed approximately 10 to the acre the paddocks soon became pugged. Only perennial ryegrass would withstand such treatment, and then only the stronger and hardier plants. Under such treatment there grew up a strain that won wide recognition overseas and among the highest authorities, and these opinions were confirmed when the Government’s certification scheme was commenced in 1929, when seed from this district was sought for the still further improvement of type. High Germination.

Poverty Bay seed always had a high germination standard, and there was seldom any fungus growth. One serious setback Was experienced 50 years ago, when rust made its first appearance in the district crops, which were not worth harvesting for a number of years. Only the rust-re-sisting strains survived, and that disease i.s now rare in the old pasture crops. <

When Government tests revealed the superiority of the Poverty Bay ryegrass under scientific test, renewed interest was infused into the seed industry, which was beginning to languish at about that time, and the price for the seed was doubled. At one time early in the certification icheme more than £1 per bushel was being received for the. seed, a figure that was approached again during the past season,, when the Poverty Bay district was practically the only one •n New Zealand with excellent germination tests. Another advantage of the Poverty Bay seed is that it is small, and makes up a very heavy bushel. For English ryegrass a standard bushel is 201 b., but old pasture seed from Poverty Pay averages from 301 b. to 401 b. per bushel.