Los Banos Rotary Club History
Tells of Work for Seed Improvement

Predicting for California farmers a spectacular per-acre production within the next few years, Frank G. Parsons, associate in agronomy at the University of California at Davis, Tuesday noon told members of the local Rotary Club something of the work that is now being done in this state in the field of plant breeding and improved crop production methods.

As an example of what might be expected, Parsons told of the development of a new variety of hybrid onion that in an experimental planting last year produced 36 tons—1500 bushels—on a single acre. Experiments now underway with barley, alfalfa, and milo hold promise of equal achievement, Parsons said.

Explaining briefly the arduous job of developing varieties of California field crops, Parsons said that almost endless and exceedingly painstaking work is necessary to create a new strain before the seed is ready for distribution to commercial growers.

In this connection the state’s seed certification program is utilized to obtain fullest distribution and insure permanence of the new variety. Under this plan, foundation seed originally produced at Davis is released to selected farmers under exaction restrictions prescribed by the state. Planted fields are inspected frequently during the growing season and all unhealthy plants and obnoxious weeds removed. Extra care is required at harvest to insure against possibility of adulteration, and after cleaning samples are taken to be tested for purity and germination. Seed finally approved is sacked and identified with a metal-sealed blue tag.

Parsons said there is a definite need for more certified see growers and explained that the extra care and labor involved is offset by the higher price that certified seed commands.

In his talk Parsons declared the Los Banos community is probably more dependent upon field crop production than any other area in the state and said that if it were not for our field crops the community would in all probability fold up and blow away. He urged all local farmers to keep informed of new seed developments and take advantage of the improved varieties as they are developed.

Two new members were introduced to the club and officially welcomed by past president L. J. Spindt. M. C. Wheat, manager of the Los Banos district office of the P.G.&.E., was introduced by Thomas Hancock, and Dr. Leo Lymp, local physician and surgeon, was introduced by George S. McKenzie Jr.

January 7, 1947

 

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