PLANT BREEDING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10614, 22 April 1912, Page 7

PLANT BREEDING.

AN INTERESTING ADDRESS

Quite a number of settlors assembled in Murray's Hall, Mastcrton, last Saturday afternoon, to hear the lecture, entitled, "Plant Breeding," delivered by Mr J. G. Wilson, the President of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The chair was occupied by Mr D. McGregor, jiuir. Mr Wilson referred to the great pleasure ifc gave, him to deliver the lecture. Ho ipointedo ut thafc the subjeet of "plant breeding" had a most important bearing on the agricultural progress of the Dominion, and represented the scientific side of this particular branch of farming. It was astonishing how little farmers generally knew of plant breeding as compared with the intimate knowledge tihey possessed of sheep breeding, and yefc the breeding of grass was the most important. In order to have a proper conception of the great strides thafc have been made in tin's science, it was necessary to know something of its earlier history. The speaker then gave I the most interesting description of the effort* of 'full, who was the first man 'to turn a tent ion to the selection; of grain for growing. Following out this theory he was a very successful grower, bxib his enthusiasm was considerably damped by the visit one day of y a professor of botany, who casually / pointed out that no fewer than 23 I different varieties of grain weve thriv- j inig in one field. However, the en- I thusiast persevered and evolved a

particular type of grain which was in existence to-day. Another pioneer was Patrick Sheriff, a Scotchman, who was a most successful grower. Ho published a pamphlet of his observations and experiments, which Germans were farseeing enough to have translated. The science, of plant breeding owed much to Garton Bros,,

of Lincolnshire, particularly their ef- j forts in cross fertilisation. After f numerous disappointments, however, the brothers successfully accomplished cross fertilisation, and were able to j produce a ■number of. different kinds of grain, with a fixity of type. Mr Wilson dwelt on the breeding of grain, particularly regarding the strength of ■straw, it being a well-known fact among farmers that potash, if added to soil deficient in this constituent, would, to a great degree, overcome a weak straw-. After explaining the structure of the straw, the speaker continued to describe past efforts of scientists both as regards fertilisation of grain ajud straw structure. Manyfarmers had the practical side, but paid little or no attention to the scientific, which at the present time was very necessary. The speakers pointed out that many farmers were relinquishing the use of cross-fertilised oats on account of their liabilty to "rust." Major Hallet was another keen grower, and by a process of continual selection of the best grain he produced good results, but it was found as soon as the seed was grown elsewhere it deteriorated. But it was Heft to the Swedish farmer to tackle in a really scientific manner the science of grain culture, and for this purpose a number of farmers formed themselves into a seed-growing association. Their experiments were fraught with manv disappointments and until the : advent of Dr. Ncilson, a botanist, the ! urievenness of the grain remained an unsolved problem. This scientist, observed that in every case where there | wa3 success, it came from one particu- ■. lav "seed head." With, this as the I'ba.sis for a new system of experiment I he selected the' particular "head,;' with the result that out of 422 plots of oats 397 were uniform. From this ' out the success of the Swedish grain was assured all over the world. The , Americans were to the front now with their experimental farms and most remarkable results had been attained by the enthusiastic youths, who had established "Corn Clubs" in that countrv "Seeing what results are being produced in other countries," said Mr Wilson, "is it not possible, by some process, to improve, our New Zealand grain and grasses?" He was sure that it only wanted the serious attention of farmers, and in this connection, he was pleased to note the efforts of Dr. Hilge.ndorf, of the Lincoln College, in the culture of a Tuscam. variety of wheat, which had proved better adapted to the Canterbury district than .any other variety. A Seed Association similar to that in Canada was urgently required in New Zealand to improve the yield. It seemed almost as if the New' Zealand farmer was too well off to trouble about the scientific side of plant culture. Mr W. Perry said that it gave him great pleasure'to move a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wilson for his address, which hohad listened to with keen appreciation. Mr J. C. Cooper, in seconding the motion, said that if an. experimental farm was established in the Wairar--apa, ifc would tend to add to the productiveness of the land. Farmers were all in sympathy with the Union in the Waira,rapa, and it only wanted a number of farmers to gei together and it would move. The chairman said that the address had made him realise the great necessity of experimental farms for research work, equipped with qualified men There was much to be done in the field of bacteriology in the soil, which was only in its infancy. "He hoped farmers would take a deeper interest in the' Union. They were ffi-eatlv indebted to Mr Wilson, who always had the welfare of the farming community at heart. Mr Wilson Briefly acknowledged the compliment paid him, and the meeting terminated. -