GRAZIERS AT LAW

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18101, 17 June 1924, Page 4

GRAZIERS AT LAW

LARGE SUM INVOLVED.

TUSSOCK OR DANTHONIA ?

The hearing of the two cases arising out of grass fires in tire Mendip Hills district -was continued before Mr Justice Adam 3 yesterday. - The plaintiffs were Robert Keir lie- ; Candless, Parnassus, farmer, who , claimed damages amounting to £1913 | 10s, and Alister Malcolm Macfarlane, Lanercost. Parnassus, farmer, who ; claimed £4OOO damages, and the defendant was Norman Rutherford, Mendip Hills, Parnassus, station-holder. Mr O. T. J. Alpers, with him Mr H. D. Aclaud. appeared for MeCandless, and Mr Aeland. with him Mr Alpers and Mr E. A. Cuthbert, for Macfarlane. The defendant was represented by Mr M. J. Gresson, with him Mr C. S. Thomas. Both eases are being taken together. Joseph Lee. commission agent, Christchurch. said he had seventeen years' experience of sheepfarming j in North Canterbury. He was on Waiau country backing on to Mt. I Stewart for that time. He burned his tussock in the spring, and never in the summer time. He first inspected the two farms concerned in the case about six weeks ago. He spent seven hours in making that inspection, and he was over Macfarlane ? s block on Sunday, June loth. He could not form much of an opinion of the country of MeCandless. It carried 540 sheep and 13 head of cattle. There were patches unburnt on Macfarlane's country, and judging by the patches it was second-class sheep country before the fire; probably it would carry half a ewe to the acre, and was worth"about £3 10s an acre. The block of MeCandless, on the whole, was worth about £7 an acre, but he would hesitate to value the burnt portion. About 500 acres of MeCandless's block was burned. It was a complete burn, and he had never seen sheep country I burned like it before. Seventy per cent, of the tussock was ruined completely and would never come back, and of the remaining 30 per cent, a large proportion would be useless. The tussocks were completely Tmmed out. On the property there were before the fire cabbage trees, and these had been burned down to within three feet of the ground. These trees would have , been originally 14 feet high. In shady places he found fern. The advantages of tussock were its feeding value, for sheep at the tussock after a burn, and cattle and horses also fed off it at all times. After the recent burning up the associated grasses round the tussock were destroyed. In lambing, time the tussocks provided, good-shelter. In times of frost tussock was shelter for the associated grasses. Before the fire there' was .a little -danthonia and now there";was an; abundance of - danthonia growing through the roots of burnt tussocks. The best part of the country would be absolutely danthonia country. He found danthonia was neglected by stock as food. It browned off in the winter and came again in the spring. It was at its best when eaten well down. In his opinion, on Macfarlane's country it would be expensive, to graze and. he thought cattle would starve'on'danthonia on* Macfarlane's country. In his opinion that country Was damaged to the extent of 30s an acre for the whole 1800 acres, taking into account the fern and manuka. He | thought it would affect the country 10 per cent, in the lambing by the loss of

the tussock. Having to buy new sheep would also be against Macfarlane's interest, as the new sheep would hare to be acclimatised. In his opinion the sheep on the block should have been sold and the whole block rested until October. The tussocks that were left j would then get a chance to grow. With regard to McCandless's pro- j perty, he assessed the damage at £2 an acre. It was lower country, the burn was more severe, and was a little better in regard to tussoqk. The ' fences had also been burned, and some of the gate's. He also inspected Murray's block, which adjoined Macfarlane's, but he found that the burn there was much less severe than on the land owned by Macfarlane and McCandless. The fire had obviously gone very lightly through that block. There was far more tussock on Murray's block than on the land owned by the plaintiffs. The stock on Murray's block was in good condition. Tussocks in Court. The witness produced a tussock in Court showing the associated grasses growing round and through. He then produced cocksfoot not sheltered by the tussock, and injured by frost. A further exhibit showed the cocksfoot growing sheltered by the tussock. Specimens of danthonia were also produced. To Mr Gresson, the witness said that about 70 per cent, of his own country was in tussock, and 30 per cent, in fern and manuka. It was similar country to Macfarlane's. There was more English grass than on Mncfarlane's. He burned his country to improve the tussock, and the effect was favourable on tussock, English and native grasses, in the spring. He thought than danthonia country was of more value than dense fern country. The ewes would not go to fern and gullies for shelter in lambing time, but the tussocks were the main shelter on hilly country in the lambing season. In his opinion, an acre in English grass would carry six sheep. Before, the fire he assessed Macfarlane's place at. £5 10s an acre, and after at £4 an-acre. Mr Gresson: What difference did you meke between the fern and tussock" country in estimating the depreciation of 30s an acre?—l know in my own mind what difference I made, but I decline to answer because I am not sure of the figures. The reason for burning in the spring was because there was moisture round the root of the tussock, and only the dried and dead ends of the tussock were burned. To Mr Alpers, witness said a farmer burned fern to eradicate it, the best time being in the autumn. If fern were burned in midsummer and rain followed the fern grew stronger Mian ever. When he saw Macfarlane 'a propefv six week 3 ago the fern was growing stronger than ever. An Expert in Grasses. Frank Ernest Ward, an instructor in agriculture, employed by the New Zealand Department of Agriculture, said hei had made a scientific study of grasses. On February 19th he inspected the farms of the plaintiffs, and again on Monday of last week. He had examined various portions of the country.- He would describe-it as sec;-ond-class tussock grass land. Both common tussocks were in evidence, poa and fescue. The feed value of tussock was low, and it might be eaten a little after burning. • From observations the witness said that tussock waa not eaten to any great extent. Sheep liked a change of diet,- but tussock did not form a large part of their feed. The value of tussock was its protection to other grasses and stock. It conserved moisture, and ensured continuity of feed. The tussock gave shelter during lambing. ■• Even danthonia would derive benefit from a- tussock growing round it... Over a year the food value of English -. -grasses " was Higher than anything'else;- The edible period, of danthonia-was confined to. a month in the spring and two to three months in the autumn, whereas -the English grasses would give a succession of feed. Before the fire he would say that about 50 per cent, of plaintiffs' properties were iu tussock, 40 per cent, in danthonia, and 10 percent., in English grasses. The bulk of the feed at some periods of the year would be danthonia. During seven months of the year the English grasses and a certain amount of danthonia would provide the food. The fire on Macfarlane's country seriously diminished the amount of tussock. After visiting the country a week ago he was surprised to find such a quantity of tussock had been killed. Witness thought that quite 70 per cent, of the tussock had been killed on Macfarlane'B place. The English grasses would not come , back either. The vegetation would become danthonia. For surface sowing danthonia was difficult to sow. Taking into consideration the class of country, 201b of seed to the acre would be necessary on the burned country. Eightcenpence to 2s was the price of danthonia per lb. January was not a season to be recommended for surface sowing of danthonia. . He did not see much fern six feet high. Land growing tall fern was recognised as good land, and would grow good grafeses. It should grow good cocksfoot, but the season was not suitable. Witness produced photographs in Court of both properties after the -fire. Witness also inspected the property of McCandless, and he considered 70 per cent, of the tussock country was destroyed, and would become danthonia country. ' Danthonia spread rapidly when land was vacated by other grasses. If danthonia was established it could not be eradicated without ploughing. It was valuable for food only when young. If it became coarse it had to be burned and renewed. Marlborough and Canterbury. Danthonia was sown in Marlborough in preference to better grasses because it held better than they did. There were various reasons for this. Danthonia suited poor land and land subjected to extreme heat. Witness said he had not attempted to assess the loss by the fires, but from a scientific point of view the vegetion had been impaired. From a vegetative point of view he thought the carrying capacity of the country had been reduced by one-third. To Mr Gresson, witness Baid the management of the farm might have, to be altered and the sheep put on dry feed owing to the fire.' If Macfarlane could have increased the output of the agricultural land, he might have carried on successfully despite the fire. On light country danthonia had been sown as one of the best grasses for it, and one might call £5 an acre land light country. Danthonia was therefore valuable along with other grasses. If tussocks were burned and replaced | by danthonia there would be more edible pasture. If the tussocks occupied 30 per cent, of the land burned, it would be roughly 150 acres. The value of tussocks as sheher was greater than danthonia as feed. . The danthonia in Marlborough died off in the dry hot summer. To some extent the state of the danthonia depended on the landowner and his management. Witness did not think it possible that 10,000 sheep could be kept all the year round on danthonia country. He contended I that other land must be worked with ! danthonia country. If the tussock was i not valuable the farmers of Canterbury : would have got rid of it long ago. The danger of summer sowing was that although rain germinated the seed, a dry spell afterwards would kill the plant in its youth. Last autumn was a dry one. Accordingly he would not <iave advised Macfarlane to sow in the

summer. He inspected the land -with a view to autumn sowing. The burned land could have carried stock, bat it ■would not have been advisable. The growth of vegetation was very disappointing. The- land would now carry about one-third of a ewe to the acre after having been spelled. Babbits were not exceedingly plentiful. To Mr Alpers, witness said that Marlborough did not get the same decree of drving winds as Canterbury. There was no marked degree of change in the character of the country. Values of Stock. J William Wilson Morten, auctioneer J for Dalgetv and Company, Ltd.. said j he sold some of Macfarlane's sheep in Januarv, which were in backward condition.' This adversely affected the prices. In January the sheep market was not good for ewes, for it was too earlv. The prices improved in February," and again improved in March. In ewe's there was a difference of Ss a head between January and March, and lambs 4s. . To Mr. Gresson, the witness said the lambs were too young when sold in January, and would have done better at the' sales in February. Rabbit-in-fested country affected the condition of sheep. George FTizzell, stock agent tor Pyne, Gould. Guinness, Ltd., said that Januarv was a poor month for selling ewes The ewe market appreciated from'Januarv to March to the extent of 7s to 10s. Lambs in that period appreciated 4s to ss. - 1 To Mr Gresson, witness said that I rain at the end of February accounted in some measure for the market rising. The number of ewes offering in Januarv was below the average. William Anderson, farmer, said that he had had 43 years' experience of farming in North Canterbury. Two years ago he was in the Parnassus district, and found a good deal of danthonia compared with the early days. The danthonia fod the sheep well enough to July, when they fell away. The "ewes did'not seem to have sufficient milk for the lambs. He did not consider danthonia a good, grass for milk. He inspected the plaintiffs' country three weeks ago. The country on both places was severely burned, including the fences. In his opinion the boit of the tussocks would not come again because of the fire, and he considered this a loss to the country. The loss might be 30s an acre. Macfarlane's property might carry 350 ewes less, and McCandless's property would carry only about three-quarters of the number carried before the lire. Ewe countrv in that part of Canterbury was worth £7 or £S an acre. Sheep bred on a place did a great deal better than these bought. Sheep from higher country would do all Tight. He had not burned in' the summer at Teviotdah?, but in August or September a'ld in suitable weather. Sheep did befer on that country in the spring. January burning resulted in too fierce a fire, killing the grass. To Mr Gresson, the witness said that he inspected the burned land on Sunday. Stock could have been put on the land, but it would have been unwise, and personally he would have waited' until September. He did not think it was much good sowing on the land where fern had been burned in the summer-time.. He was sure summer burning did harm. Glenmark in the eighties was burned through the Omihi Valley to the sea, but most of that country had been ploughed at the present, time. The Weka Pass was full of danthonia.Frank Sandrcy, sheep-dealer,'employed by Field and Royds, of Christcl.urch, said that in February he bought 365 ewes from Macfarlane. The sheep were starved because when put on good feed a percentage of them died. Seven died in the first week. -. Finlay McLennan, employed by the plaintiff Macfarlane : nt the. time of thefire, said that: about 20 per. cent, of the hill block was - fern.. It was on •~the whole half a sheep to the aerocountry. On April Bth, the witness said, he inspected a pieco of laud on the north-east of Macfarlane's property on the far side of Murray's property. That piece of land had dry tussock, danthonia and fern in abundance. The season was an unusually dry one. On account of the fire ho had sold 556 six and eight-tooth ewes, 200 two-tooth ewes, and 300 ewe lambs. These would not have been sold but for the fire. The stock were sold in January, February, and March. Six hundred lambs were also sold in January. These lambs would have been sold in any case, but they were sold in January instead of March because of lack of carrying capacity owing to. the fire. Up to "the end of February he had, not seen any sheep on the boundary of Murray's property, adjoining M:iefarlane's. On April Bth he saw a large number of Murray's sheep on the Mendip block. To Mr Gresson, the- witness said he went to Mendip with the plaintiffs iu order to ascertain the origin of the fire. The ewes were culled out according to ages, and perhaps condition. At this stage the Court adjourned till 10.15 this morning.