NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9012, 26 January 1895, Page 9

NOTES FOR GRAZIER AND DEALER.

••Weekly Press.*

Br Straggles..

Messrs Tothill WaUon and Co.. of Invercarßil), write: —Under the heading of The Farmer we notice Chewing's Fescue referred to by a correspondent, " W.T.M.." Manaroa, who expresses the opinion that it is not hard fescue. In this opinion hjeisquice correct, as Messrs Sutton and Sons, after having sown some of the seed we sent them in their trial grounds have pronounced it Festuca Rubra. On first receiving the sample they advised us they thought it was Festuca Dariuscula, but after growing the plant and closely observing its characteristics and habits they are satisfied it is Rubra. We think " W.T.M." is miataken when he says the grass is quite common on the hills at Pelorus Sound. There is a native fescue common to some of the hills in this district, the seed of which is very like Cfaewing's Fescue seed, but the plant does not yield nearly so much feed, and we expect it is thin same native Fescue which " W.T.M." has observed in Pelorus Sound. As a matter of fact it takes about three years before Chewing's Fescne comes to anything like maturity as a fodder plant, and we are confident that as time passes "W.T.M." will realise the great superiority of Chewing's Fescue over any other variety of Fescue known yet for poor soils in a dry climate. By this post we send you pamphlets giving the history of this grass.

Referring to Cbewing's Fescue the pamphlet mentioned by our correspondent cays:—There has been a good deal of diversity of opinion a* to the correct; name of this grass, bub we may in the meantime call it by the above name, by which it is well known, and whatever it Is called does not alter the fact that it is a most valuable grass, and the results from it In some places have been marvellous. We believe the history of this grass is that a settler near Woodlands had a small patch of it and from time to time saved the seed. Mr Holms, of Walmahaka, sowed a good deal of itatGlenhamand Waimahaka, and Mr Tarlton, of Glenelg, Mossbarn, secured some of the seed and aowed it. Mr Chewing afterwards purchased the Glenelg property and immediately saw the value of the grass and commenced, and continued to save the seed. It went by the name of Hard Fescue, and owing to Mr Chewing being unable to supply the demand, large quantities of Hard Fescue were imported from Home, but none of the imported gave similar results. Therefore to distinguish it from the imported we always referred to it as Chewlng's Fescue, and it is now generally know by this name. This grass will grow on almost any land, and it is a valuable fodder for sheep or cattle, growing late in autumn and early in the spring, and keeping, stock well and healthy.

Mr Chewing, writing regarding thi9 fescue, gives as some information. Hβ says:—l grew and prepared for market the seed bought by Mr Rich from Mr G. C. Tdthill, of Invercargili. How the name "Chewing's Fescue," originated I know not, but I think perhaps a ticket might have been attached to one of the bags with my name on it, and Mr Rich has been in tho habit of speaking of it as " Che wing's Fescue." 1 certainly did nob give it ray name. I am of opinion that it is Hard Fescue. Sheep Feaouo 1 have grown also, but ie is not so good in many ways. It does not produce so much feed and grows dose to the ground, and will not stand stocking so heavily.. It is a much darker green in colour, bat the seed might easily be taken for the same., "have had ! considerable experience wiih both, but I would not undertake to tell one from the other jsithoub seeiiya; It growing.. ..w ~_ ' However, the name is not what we ere wanting to get at. What is wanted is a grass that will hold in light, stony, or pumice soils, and not run out every two or three years, and one that stock will eat readily, fatten on. and will give a good sole of grass. Should anyone feel interested 1 shall be glad if they will call at my place and see it growing, and I think it more than likely they will go away convinced there is something Iα what Mr Rich claims for It.

I sow from 201b to 251b to the acre of clean seed, and with reasonable care in two years it will completely cover the ground. Four years ago I had a patch of over forty acres. Being a novice at growing grass I did not place.any particular value,on it, bat as the other grasses in the same paddock began to die out I noticed that if anything this grass was gaining strength aud getting thicker. It had then been down four years, and had been seeded twice and stripped once; since then I have cat it three times, and it is still as thick as a mat;

For ground intended for cropping iv a few years I dp not think it is a good grass to sow. From what I have learned from experience, it will be bard to exterminate, bus as most land owners, like myself, find constantly renewing grass runs away with a lot of money, and would think a Sass that would last for years someiDg of a boon and a blessing, it cannot .be otherwise regarded than a most useful addition to their pastures. To anyone -wanting permanent paddocks my advice would be "try a little." For my own part rsow as much as I can each year. As a mixture I would advise sowing, say 151b of Cocksfoot and 101b or 121b of Fescue. In say four or five years tbe Cocksfoot will have disappeared and the Fescue will completely cover the ground. I have at times tried to buy and been offered what is called Hard Fescue, bub so far uo imported seed that I have seen has been' worth buying. The percentage of seed .would be about one third, or even less, and the rest rubbish. That it can be imported I have no doubt, but I tuink it would require to be imported in air-Ughc tanks, and even then it would heat before it could be sown.