asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the total number of samples of wheat, oats and barley tested by the seed testing section of his Department last season; (b) the average germination and purity of each of the three cereals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Testing of Cereals.
The numbers of samples of wheat, oats and barley tested at the Department's seed testing station last season, i.e., from the 1st October, 1941, to the 30th April, 1942, were 7,086, 1,781 and 698, respectively. The average germination and purity of the samples were as follows:—
|
Average Germination |
Average Purity |
|
|
per cent. |
per cent. |
|
|
Wheat |
81 |
98.9 |
|
White oats |
88 |
98.7 |
|
Black oats |
87 |
97.57 |
|
Barley |
89 |
99.1 |
The figures of germination and purity given above do not necessarily represent the averages for the total quantities of seed wheat, oats and barley sown in the 1941-42 season.
Can the Minister say if there was any marked reduction in germination observed in seed wheat submitted for tests late in the winter?
Yes, it was very marked.