PRODUCTION OF SEEDS

Southland Times, Issue 24231, 14 September 1940, Page 12

PRODUCTION OF SEEDS

War-Time Increase Essential PROBABLE REDUCTION OF IMPORTS

The production of seeds in New Zealand has for many years past been a most important primary industry, and with the possibility that the importation of seeds from Britain may be greatly restricted next season because of the war, many farmers are concerned about the necessai-y supplies. Mr R. McGillivray, Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture at Christchurch, said this week that many farmers had inquired about next year’s supply of seeds, and it appeared that one of their greatest concerns was the supplies of rape seed. Mr McGillivray said, given reasonable growing conditions, there would not be any scarcity of rape seed. In fact, he expected quite a large sui'plus. A large area of both giant and broad leaf Essex rape was being grown for seed production under the department’s certification scheme, and many farmers were also saving areas for seed production on their own account. Areas had been set aside for the production of mangel, turnip, swede, chou mollier, and sugar beet seed, he said, and these areas should produce quite a considerable quantity of seed for next year’s sowings. Mr McGillivray made particular mention of the necessity for farmers to produce large quantities of grass and clover seed, as it was essential that we should have adequate supplies of these for next season’s sowings. He specially mentioned the importance of top-dressing in the production of seeds, preferably an application of ammoniated superphosphate at 2 cwt an acre for the grass seed i areas, and superphosphate at the same rate for the clover areas. The necessity for lime also should be kept well to the fore.

Mr McGillivray said that it appeared to him that sufficient top-dressing had not been done last autumn, even on pastures intended only for grazing. He strongly recommended that this work should not be left undone, but that an endeavour should be made to get the work done now. Many farmers considered the contract rates for this work were now far too high, but the difficulty could be overcome by each farmer as far as possible doing his own work. If this were done, costs would soon right themselves. He stated that he particularly wished to emphasise the importance of adequate manuring in the production of seeds, as well as the production of nutritious pasturage.