CERTIFIED SEED

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVII, Issue 21, 27 January 1943, Page 6

CERTIFIED SEED

PRODUCTION IN C ANTERBUR Y . INCREASED ACREAGES. Figures showing what he described as a striking feature of Canterbury war-time farming — the increased acreages devoted to certified seed production — have been issued by Mr R. P. Connell, ffelds superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, Christchurch. The acreages entered for certification during the last three seasons had been, he said: 19,929 acres in 1940-41; 24,816 acres in 1941-42; and 32,784 acres in 1942-43. During the same period there had been increases in. all districts, Mr Connell said, but the outstanding one had been that of 9384 acres in South Canterbury, the area of 10,916 acres in 1940-41 having been increased to 20,300 acres in 194243. The most remarkable expansion of acreage devoted to a specific crop had been in respect of Montgomery red clover, he said, the acreages beilig: 2998 in 1940-41; 4364 in 1941-42; and 9761 in 1942-43. There had, he said, been solid expansion in the following crops (figures representing the three successive seasons) : — Perennial ryegrass, 3590, 6554, 8264; white clover, 215, 336, 457; wheat, 1970, 2537, 2967; 'broad leaf Essex rape, 282, 626, 649; giant rape, 586, 1584, 1347. In potatoes the position had been characterised by a substantial recovery in 1942-43 after a heavy decline last season, the acreages being;. 2922 in 1940-41; 1989 in 1941-42; and 2777 in 1942-43. Fluctuation and eventually a decrease had occurred in the following crops (figures representing successive seasons) : Italian ryegrass, 3884, 3009, 3468; cocksfoot, 3120, 3250, 2822; broad red clover, 245, 384, 199.

THE DOMINION'S NEEDS. - Mr Connell said that the increased acreage was to some extent attributable to the request (for increased production of certain lines of seed) made by British authorities during the war period. Apart from tbe export aspect, the increased production of certifled seed for use within the Dominion was decidedly advantageous to the Dominion itself. Outside the official system of certiflcation and in terms of the arrangement with the Grain and Seed Merchants' Federation, the department exercised some supervision of the growing of the seeds of a range of crops extensively imported in prewar times, but which could not be obtained overseas at present. In this work Canterbury farmers took part freely, their areas devoted to the seed production of mangels and marrow stem kale, commonly known as chou moellier, being designed to meet the full Dominion's requirements, Mr Connell said. The work of the department relating to high-class seeds would be substantially greater this season than it has been recently. Essentially because of officers joining the fighting services, the regular trained staff in Canterbury was smaller and had undertaken substantial additional work apart from the increased seed certification. He would ask all coneerned in seed certification to exercise forbearance if certification work at times did not receive the attention of officers as promptly as in peace time. At the same time the assurance could be given that all possible had been done and would be done to provide a prompt, efficienr service under unavoidably difficult staff conditions.