XN000022-1979-03-25 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1979

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YELLOW LEAF CHOI SUM BEATS SUMMER HEAT AND RAIN

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BIGGER YIELD AND MORE TOLERANT TO HEAT AND RAIN ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF A NEW STRAIN OF CHOI SUM (FLOWERING CABBAGE) RECENTLY INTRODUCED ON THE LOCAL MARKET.

OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE WORKED ON THE SEED SELECTION PROGRAMME SINCE 1974 ARE CALLING IT THE +YELLOW LEAF CHOI SUM+.

HONG KONG CONSUMED 460,900 PICULS OF CHOI SUM LAST YEAR WHICH INDICATES ITS POPULARITY, DEMAND IS STEADY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

BUT ITS GROWTH DURING THE SUMMER IS AFFECTED BY THE PREVAILING HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HEAVY RAINFALL, YIELD AND QUALITY BECOME RELATIVELY POOR AS A RESULT.

TO HELP FARMERS OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT LAUNCHED A SEED SELECTION PROGRAMME IN 1974 TO FIND A VARIETY WHICH CAN BE CULTIVATED WELL IN SUMMER. THIS EXPERIMENT WAS DONE AT THE DEPARTMENT'S SHEUNG SHUI FARM.

+AFTER YEARS OF OBSERVATION, SELECTION AND ROGUING WEEDING OUT REJECTS -- WE FINALLY SUCCEEDED IN ISOLATING A STRAIN IN 1976 WHICH WE HAVE NAMED THE YELLOW LEAF CHOI SUM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

HE ADDED THAT THE SEEDS WERE THEN MULTIPLIED FOR SALE TO FARMERS.

SALES HAD A POOR START ONLY ONE TAEL WAS SOLD IN 1976.

BUT THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF THE YELLOW LEAF CHOI SUM SOON ATTRACTED BUYERS, RESULTING IN SALES WHICH TOTALLED 700 TAELS LAST YEAR.

+TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND AND TO PROVIDE A STEADY SUPPLY WE HAVE NOW 1,800 TAELS AVAILABLE THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COMPARING THE FAMILIAR GREEN CHOI SUM TO THE NEW STRAIN HE SAID THE LATTER YIELD IS 50 PER CENT HIGHER AND IT ALSO OFFERS A BETTER ASSURANCE OF PRODUCTION IN SUMMER.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID FARMERS INTERESTED IN USING THE NEW SEEDS ARE REQUESTED TO APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT'S AGRICULTURAL LIAISON OFFICERS OR SHEUNG SHUI FARM. THEY ARE ALSO WELCOME TO MULTIPLY THE NEW SEEDS THEMSELVES, HE ADDED.

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