SEED TESTING AT MASTERTON

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 12 September 1912, Page 5

SEED TESTING AT MASTERTON

LECTURE BY DR COCKAYNE.

An interesting lecture on "Seedtestfng, and itg utilization in teaching Agriculture" was given yesterday by Dr Cockayne to the teachers attending the special Spring School, now being held at the District High School, Masterton. To show the necessity there is for the testing of seeds, the lecturer remarked that one sample which the Department tested last year, contained 49 different species, and most of these were weeds. Purity of seed and power of germination were the important points to consider in purchasing seed, and was demonstrated in a graphic manner how the real .value of seeds could he arrived at. Working on a percentage basis it was shown lioav in two instances, seed ■ which was....purchased- for Is per 11was worth Is Id in actual value, | whereas 8d alb seed cost lis'2d, owing to the amount of weeds, etc. I The absolute weight, of the seed, th' number of seeds per lb, and

source of origin, were also pnints which had to be considered, and the lecturer lucidly explained how school classes could carry out these tests.

More lectures simflar to these could he given with much advantage to the community, and the Board of Education deserve all credit for their deavours in this direction.