AS YOU WERE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20108, 30 November 1939, Page 6

AS YOU WERE

SEED CERTIFICATION ; PERENNIAL RYEGRASS FRESH APPLICATIONS ACTION IN GISBORNE' I A statement made by the .Minister j of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in Wellington last night to | postpone the new system of certifying perennial ryegrass seed until next year will mean that fresh applications for certification will have to be called by the Department of Agriculture in Gisborne. Applications under the new system closed at the end of last week, when 236 acres eligible for certification as pedigree or mother seed were entered, and arrangements were being made by the agricultural instructor, Mr. E. M. Bates, to make field inspections at as early a date as possible. Mr. Bates stated to-day that as a result of the postponement of the new scheme applications would be accepted up to December 8 under the same arrangements as last season, when field inspections were made of areas eligible for certification as mother and permanent pasture seed under the grading then in operation, while commercial lines also would be dealt with as before on laboratory test. Last year between 800 and 900 acres were entered for certification as mother and permanent pasture seed, in addition to large areas certified to as commercial seed. This year it seemed that larger areas would be available for certification, judging by the paddocks being shut up in many parts of the district.

'ln view of the short time now available for the receipt of applications. Mr. Bates urged farmers with areas available as mother or permanent pasture seed to make their applications as early as possible in order to facilitate the work of the department.