GRASS-SEED TEST.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 32, 6 February 1913, Page 6

GRASS-SEED TEST.

A' GOYEEiMMENT'SiraG-EiSTiON,

In furtherance of'its expressed de--1 terininatioii to do all that is possible! to..improve- the quality of grass seed; that is sold for the laying down of i pastures, the Department of Agriculture...recently. offered, to undertake the j test ing. of all grass and clover seeds ex- ! hibited; at agricultural shows. This suggestion has,been made-by the de-pai-t-ment so that the true merits of ail seeds would be known. The present method' of judging '.these classes on. the day of the show, it is claimed, only permits of a superficial examination of the seed. Under the-depart-ment's proposal an accurate .analysis of each sample could be supplied to the judges, and the, information thus obtained would materially assist-hi the pacing of,the exhibits.' Each analysis would give the following particulars: l^mty, and the names of v all impurities; germination,- and germination energy; real value, equalling actual percentage of seed true to name and capable' of germination; weight- of 1000 seeds (important, as the hearer ■trie seed the better will be- its growth, othor things being equal); the number ot weeds-per pound; and the number ox imng seeds true to nanio per pound. It would be necessary for the wrchibics to-be in the hands of the "secretary m time to permit of samples being token and analyses made—say «ix weoK3 before judging day. It was ■poin&ed out iv this connection that evrubits of dairy produce now had to reach the various shows some considerable time'before the advertised date ot opoiung, and no difficulty was <.>xpononoed. Tne. adoption of this system vvOTiki, it was considered, mater•taJJy he;p the. endeavors that were b;mg mau-a to'have ail grasses siiid cloy«>r -.soeos sold in-"the-..Dominion oi a guy rantoe basis.

j>;«jiissrng tlie Government's ofror! at UK! Jast eor/iniittee : niec'i:in"- of tl-~ ' iw.a-,ia W Htn A. and .P. Aviation! j.:i^(iijers cLjcl not appear to appreciate t.k. value of the suggestion/ nor did * "\y gtrr© Hie" matter the consideration I •i-oat its importance'demands. \ C - I ■corft?ng to 1i,,, re^oi-fc pubniJted in a i ifxrai jvt;_)er there was p7-aetical!y i>o * aitf-ussioji, and tlio -remarks tliat Ver« ■rnfxio would suggest tlio coridHsJop-' xhai ■r,f i fl_< ! om l n,troo-is moro solicitors ■in r'.:-.wj-a to Keepiiig np the ontriea -CiJii;; mi Hc.]v<';y .Tss'stincr fn nromoto '.mat is justly claimed to be a noces- I t--:)iy reform or national importance .it vr.l3 sii^gestcd that a trial might be I made with one class of seed only but | tiie meotrug failed to give a tiirect ))roj:o!ii;.c<v-n9nt cndorsbi!:/ the propopal! oi: L/'je departmental offi.cei\s. In* this j tiK'rp is inntter for regret.-' for the I co-o'per^.tian of oJ) cotip/^ted vnfh vs?--\ i?H'z\ fn^rV'-w-Us is nrg-o'ntly tip-p-'JwI +. f . ! .->,- ~r - vo <}\& quality of pasture griis-scs J i-.rr-j r-roTf'^ the piirr^i';."!' of' ''«•;]. '

who is now compelled to take consid-

; erable risk because of the absence of 1 any specified guaranteed analysis 1 such as that advocated.