ALFREDTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1940, Page 7

ALFREDTON

YOUNG FARMERS GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. I (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Alfredton Young Farmers’ Club was held in the .Alfredton Hall last Wednesday, there being a fair attendance of members. The speaker for the evening, Mr M. Finlayson, gave an interesting and instructive address on grass and clover seeds. Mr Finlayson stressed the importance of sowing good grass seed, such as pedigree rye, certified mother seed, certified permanent pasture seed and Government stock seed. Certified mother seed was procured from a pedigree certified crop. Government stock and certified seed proved to be the best procurable. Referring to germination, he said, that because seed had been certified, it did not mean that it had a high percentage of germination. This seed could sometimes have a very small percentage of germination but that was not usually the case. Mr Finlayson described the ultra-violet ray test which was most valuable in discovering impurities in a line of seed. This test could be carried out by means of the ultra-violet ray glass. Impurities were shown by violet markings. Samples of seeds were shown to members during the talk and these included imported seed, which was coloured to the extent of 10 per cent, so as to be distinguishable from New Zealand seed.

In reply to a question Mr Finlayson stated that for manuka burns and hard hill country the best seed to sow was Danthonia and Chewing's Fescue. Danthonia should be sown in preference to rye grass on this type of land.

Mr J. Shirtcliff moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, which was carried by acclamation.

Supper was provided by the members.