NEW PASTURES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 September 1932, Page 2

NEW PASTURES

THE USE OF PURE RYE, CLOVER AND COCKSFOOT ADYISED. TEST OF EXPERIENCE. In view of the fact that the sowing of new pastures is pop'ular in the Rotorua district, a word or two on seed seleetion at this juncture may prove usef ul. The experts of ' the Agricultural Department are convinced by careful observation that in the use of seed mixtures only true perennial rye-grass, New Zealand cocksfoot and New Zealand white clover should be used. At times, and especially in respect to perennial rye-grass, the price of the superior strain may seem to he disproportionately high, but when it is kept in mind that the use of inferior strains is likely to lead either to a long period of unnecessarily depressed yield or to unnecessarily early hreak-ing-up and resowing of the sward, then the comparatively high cost of the superior strains of seeds will not seem sufficient to justify dispensing with- their use. If supplies of true perennial rye-grass are not conveniently obtainable by the purchase of certified seed, then it becomes advisable to resort to lines of seed of which it can be ascertained reliably that they have reacted favourably under the special ultra-violet light seed test carried out by the Department of Agriculture. Adivce Available. Another factor of importance in the purchase of pasture seed, and incidentally of practically all kinds of seed, is its "real value' 'ascertained principally hy consideration of its germination capacity and pruity. It seems such an obviously commonsense proceeding to buy comparatively expensive seeds only on the basis of their content of live seeds of the sort to he sown that it is really surprising that farmers generally buy their seeds in a blind fashion. Farmers would do well to remember that they seldom can sell their seeds really advantageously in a similar fashion. The two principal points which seem to be generally overlooked by farmers are, firstly, that the appearance of most seeds is a very incimplete indication of their real value; and, secondly, that farmers by taking suitable simple steps may obtain gratis through the activities of the seed-testing station all the information they need about seed they contemplate using. In this connection it may be worth noting that certified seed is not at all necessarily of good germination or purity, and so, especially on account of its relatively high price, its purchase should be based at least partly on a knowledge of these qualities — knowledge which should be readily procurable from the vendors of the seed, as this information is officially supplied to the owners of the seed at the time of certification.