SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19910, 23 April 1930, Page 8

SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER.

AN EXPERT'S OPINION. The/various references made to subterranean clover M the farming column* of Tin Pans, hare aroused considerable interest and inquiry, and to gain, aome' additional information reV garding this clover a representative of , Thb Phbs» interviewed Mr R. McGillivray, Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, Ohristehurch. . "* Mr McGillivray stated that farmers . In some districts, were very keen for information about the growing of the j clover, and areas had been laid down at j . Oxford, Bankside and Sonthbridge. Mr McGillivray mentioned that he had seen .this clover growing very prolifically in parts Of the many countries Burround- - rag the Mediterranean. This region was . probably' its native home, ana it was ' x supposed to have been introduced into , Australia from the'Sonth of Europe. In Australia it. had beeome *very popular' . in some parts, and had enabled large V areas to be profitably oeeupied for , grazing. - The plant was an annual, and where ,< conditions were suitable it-gave an im» . uense amount of : -There were ' several j fairly distinct strains. Some 1 /were rimeh earlier than others, and in the-south of Europe a pink flowered strain was met with. The elqvor eould be established 'almost everywhere, but it . preferred a soil somewhat loose on top, The, ritefof 'seeding was from 2 to 2Jib per acre,' Gemination was generally fair, but there wasusuallya proportion . of hard seed*. The seed used in "New Zealand- came from Europe and Australia.

- The flower of subterranean plover ' Waa somewhat; inconspicuous. Only three to-four florets become complete flowert. k The others are gradually roduCed- r to, what may be called spines,* ' •nd t&tts a rigid ;point.(l head, was formed. After floweUdfng' the head - naturally turns downward towards the soil, and elongation of thestalk*tabes place, sometimes to tho extent of several inches, and thus tfce flower head is forced x into" the soil. If the soil, was of • free, the seed may be' » ' 'buriedto a, .depth of one inch,i - tag ' the ripening process 'takes place underground-. - Autumn was , the moat suitable. time to sow the seed.. The sowing* could-be done ■with a cover crop, or-it could be broadcasted or drilled after a cereal crop.' In all eases sopgr'should be sown;with, tits erop so as to give the young plants * good start. In some eases the closer ftp**pin,.the spring, and provided ihe soason was a good one, satisfactory would follow. In spring sownerops no .feeding should be done until; towards the' end of' May, so that seod . would be allowed to set. •- Mr. McGillivray said he was sure that tubterranean clover - would, attain a. position iof ;, considerable importance iaeome districts; .and would -enable' a good deal, more. stock to be carried.

Because of the important part playe<i by' this' Dominion in the export .of dairy produce to. the United Kingdom ■ the average New Zealander may be excused for cherishing 'some illusions : v on the general subject of. dairy production. : How many, for instance, realise that the total 'butter production of the Dominion for the year ending; June,' 1929, was n mere 2.6B'per cent.' of the world's'output? The largest . butter manufacturing, country in the • world is the "United States. One of its i4S'' States, Wisconsin,- produces more than Now Zealand and Australia combined. Germany is the second 'largest ■ producer of butter, -with Rußs/n third.: * i«. .cheese , Ruasip is.. easUy the .-largest; fnxjucer, with' German?, second and ranoe third. , 1

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