FARMING IN THE KING COUNTRY

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 1, 2 January 1924, Page 9

FARMING IN THE KING COUNTRY

INFORMTION ABOUT GRASS SEED. (ANCHORITE.) Probably the most valuable Information one could impart to the new settler of little experience is that appertaining to the grass seeds which are known to be the most suitable for the locality under review, those which the established settlers invariably now use. after much experimenting and research. Cocksfoot. This is undoubtedly one of the best grasses for most New Zealand soils, and suitable either for alternate or permanent pastures, and is especially valuable when surface sown on newly burntoff bush country. It is a fairly deep-rooted grass, and is consequently* less affected by drought than are many varieties. It is of early and very rapid growth, and although somewhat rou?h in appearance, all classes of stock are fond of it. The tufting habit may be greatly minimised by sowing heavier dressings of the seed than have been usually used in the past, and by judicious stocking of the pastures with the object of preventing them from getting rank. About twelve pounds to the acre, with other mixtures, is a reasonable sowing of cocksfoot. Much of this seed is saved in this Dominion, where it ripens in the early New Year. Ryegrass. Italian and perennial ryegrasses are valuable grasses, either for grazing or fodder purposes. Perennial ryegrass does best on loamy or stiffish clay lands, and on these it is practically permanent. On dry soils, however, this grass is distinctly temporary, and rarely exceeds three or four years. It should always be included in permanent pasture mixtures, even on dry soils which cannot maintain it permanently, as it germinates with unnsiial freedom, thus ensuring a "take' 1 that checks the weeds that inevitably become established on bare lands. The plant matures quickly, and is improved, rather than injured, by the tread of stock, and is valuable as forming a nurse crop for the finer grasses of the mixture Bown. This seed is almost exclusively saved in New Zealand, ripening about Christmas. Italian ryegrass revels in warmth and I moisture, and on rich damp soil makes extremely rapid growth, producing heavy crops in the same season in which it is 30wn. It is relished by all stock, and stimulates the milk flow. If allowed to seed, it perpetuates itself and becomes virtually permanent. This forage is probably the best of the ryes, but being a gross grower and feeder it is apt to smother and "tarvc the finer grasses, instead of sheltc-r.ng and nursing them. About four pounds of each of the above ryegrasses, per acre, is sufficient with other mixtures. Timothy. This grass is particularly adapted for permanent pastures on rich, heavy or moist soils, and drained swamps, producing a lot of feed late in the season. It is a hardy grass, capable of bearing extremes of both heat and cold, and is one of the cheapest grasses a settler can sow on suitable lands, being valuable for hay as well as for pasture. Its greatest value is obtained, however, when it is kept fairly closely grazed, otherwise it is inclined to grow wiry and tough, and wears the teeth of the animals depastured on it. As the seeds are very fine, one pound to the acre is a fair sowing of timothy. Clovers. Cowgrass should form a portion of all mixtures for permanent pastures, as it is of high feeding value, and all stock fatten rapidly on it. Being a deep rooter, it •withstands drought and is also a great fertiliser of the soil. It thrives readily on most soils, but best on rich and heavy loams, containing a fair proportion of lime. Red clover is closely related to cowgrass but is not so permanent. It ii relished by sheep especially, but all stock are partial to red clover. White clover is a perennial witb stems that spread over the surface, which give off roots where each leaf arises, and when once established it soon covers the ground. It is more permanent than any other clover, although its yield of feed is somewhat lighter. It thrives best in warm and rainy sensons. and is checked in the cold months of winter. This seed is particulaly partial to wellconsolidated soils, and hence is much at home in well-tramped paddocks, or upon naturally firm soils. Though it makes little growth when the conditions are extremely dry or cold, it is able to withstand drought, because it has a deep root system similar to that of lucerne—a set of fibrous surface roots and a long, penetrating taproot which sustains the plant during dry weather, when the creeping sideroots remain inactive, only the main stem growing. White clover at the rate of at least one pound per acre should be included in practically all mixtures used for permanent pastures. This seed is usually imported to New Zealand, but there, is no reason why the out-back settler, at any rate, should not save some of this grass from a suitable portion of his Jarm. Alskye i* a true perennial normally lasting about six years. It is a hardygrass, and will endure cold and undrained conditions in which other species of clovers would perish. Crimson clover is an excellent forage plant, greedily eaten by all kinds of stock, and is also very useful to plough under for green manure for improving the soil, by supplying it with organic matter and the nitrogen that the crimson clover absorbs from the atmosphere. The above are the only clovers the writer recommends to be sown, in the King Country, at any rate. Poa Pratensis. This is a good grass for permanent pastures, as it is suitable for most soils, grows very early in the sprin"-. and is greatly relished by stock. Owing to its running system of roots and tendency to couchiness. it is not advisable to sow on lands that are likely to be cultivated. It is a good grass for li»ht lands, as it helps to bind the soil and other grasses, such as cocksfoot and rye, thus preventing them from being pulled out by stock. It withstands drought well, and remains green throughout the summer months. Danthonia. As I have formerly written a special article upon tbe value of this grass, I will merely restate that about three pounds of danthonia pilosa should be sown on all the hilly unploughable lands of this territory, as this once-despised grass is now known to have a very distinct value, if only in the eradication of bracken fern, which grows so persistently in this land.