HARROWING GRASS LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 227, 25 September 1930, Page 27

HARROWING GRASS LANDS.

INSTRUCTIVE ADVICE. Each month Canterbury Agricultural College, in conjunction with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Economics Department, Canterbury College, issues a bulletin on some "phase of practical farming. The latest deals with the harrowing of grass lands, and a- few of the more important points should be useful to farmers generally: — The harrowing of grass lands has been part of good farming practice for half a century or more, but in recent years, with the advent of intensive grazing and top-dressing it has become increasingly important. All grass lands cannot be harrowed indiscriminately, but from careful observation it can be safely said that the following are the most important effects of grass cultivation on land carrying a good sole of grass:— 1. It spreads animal droppings. 2. It produces a level lawn-like sward, free from high places that dry out early and tend to become bare, and from lovv places that become water-legged and so fail to produce maximum growth. ■ 3. It tends to remove tussock-like patches of coarse grass which continually increase in size and colleet dust, thusdecreasing the area "available for more uesful grasses. 4. It removes many broad-leaved spacecovering weeds. . 5. It tears away old matted growth, allowing fresh, young gras3 to take its place. 6. It secures better aeration of the soil and provides a good surface tilth, j ■ 7. It increases tho beneficial effects of top-dressing. . • , Metfioda in Harrowing: . .1.: Since the value of harrowing depends largely on* the disturbance of. the soil, and since-ehoking of the harrow hae always to be guarded against, it isadvantageous to have the grass closely grazed or mown before harrowing starts. 2. Fairly damp soQ and a moist atmosphere give the best harrowing conditions. If the soil is dry the harrows will not penetrate, the soil will not be disturbed, and the workman wilfTiot be able to follow the mayim, "Leave the land black." • If the air is dry the plants, disturbed by the harrows will be killed instead of re-establishing themselves. On the other hand, the land should not be too wet or the passage, of tractors or. horses may produce injurious effects on the phvsical condition of the soil. 3. When the land is rough or poorly covered, or where weeds are prevalent, seed should be sown at the time of harrowing. This method provides a good opportunity of introducing to permanent pastures improved strains of perennial grasses which give a payable basis for top-dressing and grass management. But this. practice should only be carried out in districts where reploaghmg is not necessary, and in districts where the seed sown at the time of harrowing will not lie and rot in the ground owing to cold, wet weather. 4. Finally, success largely depends on the selection of a harrow suited to the types of soil and conditions to be dealt with. Types of Harrows. Since special harrows are necessary for the beat results, it is proposed to describe some of the grassland harrows which have been evolved, to give an account of the work done by each, and to point out where these implements might be improved. Seven types of harrows have been under trial at Lincoln College, and tie two favoured were: — A harrow constructed by attaching straight, hard steel tines to floating horizontal bars coupled in pairs and hinged to a draw-bar fitted with runners. Depth is regulated by hard steel bars bearing on the surface of the ground in front of the tine and attached to the tine carrier. Penetration is secured by the forward angle of the tine. This harrow is intended for medium scarifying and light harrowing. This harrow does very good work, and, unlike most other harrows, the points .remain at- constant depth. Very little grass blockage takes place, and as the tines are light and easily lifted, cleaning could be done by the operator: whilst the harrow is in motion. It is probably the best all-round grass harrow, being adjustable to most classes of land'. Three to five horses are required for a harrow 7ft wide. A harrow constructed by attaching tines to horizontal bars trailing from and hinged to a draw-bar fitted with runners. The tines' are pointed, bent forward and alternately to one side, thus balancing side thrust. Penetration is secured by the forward angle of the tine, no depth adjustment being provided. A short len°ih of chain harrow attached to the ream of the tine carriers serves to level off the work, scatter animal droppings and to steady the action of the tines. In action the points do not block with grass owing to their aide angle. Penetration of the tines is- fairly even, and they are easily removed for sharpening. This harrow does good work in tearing up old rough <*rass r ™ scarifying medium grass, and mbarrowing good grass It is one of the Best all-round grass harrows on Ldium and heavy land. Four or fire horses are required for a harrow Sft cultivation, proper surface harrowing and grass management will result in an improvement in pasture and the production of a sward with, the maximum amount of growing grass. Grass is New Zealand's most important crop, and provides not only the largest amount of itock food, but also, properly managed, Sβ moat nutritious stock food we can , grow.