CHANGES OPPOSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 18 November 1939, Page 14

CHANGES OPPOSED

SEED CERTIFICATION PERENNIAL RYEGRASS GISBORNE HANDICAPPED SOUTH ISLAND LEVEL Much opposition has been voiced by Gisborne growers of ryegrass seed at the changes that will take place this season in the certification procedure. They consider that, as a result of the changes, the bulk of the seed from the Gisborne district will be brought down to the level of the South Island, where the seed is infinitely inferior to that of the Gisborne strains. In the perennial ryegrass market, Gisborne seed, more popularly known as Poverty Bay ryegrass, has achieved a name for exceptionally high quality, and from the earliest days Poverty Bay seed was keenly sought on both sides of the Tasman, this being possibly as a result of the fact that Poverty Bay pastures were seldom turned, over and achieved the true perennial characteristics. Again last season Poverty Bay participated in the export trade, and the bulk of the season's crop was cleared during the autumn, ihe demand being keener in Gisborne than for stocks in other districts, for the Gisborne germination certificates were infinitely better than those from other districts. Classed as Maiden Now, however, the bulk of the seed grown in the district which is the product of mother seed will be classed in the same category as maiden seed from any district. Certification in the field is being confined to three classes, which cover the product of sowings of the following:—Nucleus seed, which ■will be eligible as Government stock seed; Government stock, which may be certified as pedigree seed; pedigree seed, which becomes officially mother seed. Mother seed pastures, which comprise the bulk of the Poverty Bay crops, will yield now what is known as permanent pasture seed, this class apparently including all seed, other than those specified in the first three grades. Poverty Bay growers have prided themselves on having a superior type to those in other districts, and to them it seems unfair that they must now be on the same basis in regard to certification as, say, Southland, where the quality is not so good,