PEDIGREE GRASSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 19, 15 October 1937, Page 23 (Supplement)

PEDIGREE GRASSES

X H.B. Plays an Important Part

only in recent years that the Idek of pedigree strains in grasses being scientifically selected has boon seriously considered. Years ago, be* fore science was applied to pastoral problemi, it was known and recognised that the «»?ed from certain farms enabled a better pasture to be established than that from other properties, although the seed was apparently the same in every respect. To-day, witb science to aid him, the farmer is as* sured that the seed he oOtains has the characteristics that he requires. Because Of the work of research, the superiority of the Hawke's Bay strains of ryegrass and white clover over that from other districts has been established. The Heretaunga plains are producing a type of ryegrass and white clover which is equal to any and better than most in the world. These two plants f ora the basic elements in our pastures on which we Tely for the feed to produce our crops of wool, mutton and dairy produce. Tn a world which is to-day spending millions of pounds on the purchase of #eeds it can be seen that there is a big market available to the grower of quality lines of grass-seed, and Hawke's Bay is year by year gaining an increasing share of this amount, although the total is, as yet, a mere fleabite in relation to the grand total. Some of those interested in this branch of our primary industry have even gone so far as to hazaTd that, eventu* ally, the Hawke'e Bay types of pasture

should become the fouudation supply of tlio seed market of the world. As a grass-seed producing country, Now Zealand to-day occupies a prominont position, and in this trade, Hawke's Bay is one of the leading provinees of the Dominion. Favoured ae we • are with highly f ortile soil, a suitable climate, and grasses of exemplary type, this province, particularly in the production' of ryegrasfi and white clover seed, holds a pre*eminent position, and the grass-seed industry is proving a substantial source of revenue to many faraiers. The Hawke's Bay 'strains of ryegrass and white clover are recognised as being amongst the finest in the world, but it is only of late years that this province has been drawn upon to such an extent in supplying the needs of other districts of the Dominion and countries overseas. Our pedigree swards ara now playing an important part in building-up pastoral production, and each year is seeing a further steady development in this branch of farming. The limit has. however, by no means beeil xeached as far as the expansion of this branch of primary production is concerned. "With the growth of apprdciation of the necessity for using only the best seeds in the establishment of pastures, so will the demand for qualjity seed continue to expand. For the season ended 1935 the total area of grasses and clovers cut for seed only in the Hawke's Bay land district was 4216 acres, of which ryegrass, with 3,688 acres, comprised the biggest production. In the 1936 season the corresponding figures were 5538 and 5278- aeres, the total acreage of grass-seed harvested in the Hawke's Bay county alone .beihg 3970.