COCKSFOOT SEED

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6582, 3 November 1939, Page 2

COCKSFOOT SEED

PASTURE COMPETITIONS

JUDGES' COMMENTS

Good Re. 'siart to Grass Grub

The absence of cocksfoot in grass mixtures that have been inspected in the various pasture competitions in North Canterbury has been most .narked. The explanation, naturally, is •,hat early feed is wanted for the ewes and lambs, and ryegras wsith clovers supply this better than cocksfoot. That there is a place for more cocksfoot on certain types of soil was suggested by Mr H. R. Bevin, the judge of a number of the pasture competitions, when speaking to the party which attended the Oxford competition inspection on Monday. Mr Bevin commented on the scarcity of cocksfoot in most of the areas he had judged. For various reasons, he considered that more could he included in the seed mixture on light land. The grass grub had become so serious that many farmers had been deprived of a big proportion of their grazing last season. Ryegrass made a pooi fight against this trouble compared with cocksfoot. This was one important reason why more attention should be given to it on light land. Cocksfoot would not have to be grazed heavily in the early spring, but in the latter half of November and December it would be found extremely t seful, particularly on the lighter land It would assist to lend permanency to the pasture and, as stated, make a much better fight against the grub.