Page 18 Advertisements Column 1

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21082, 6 February 1934, Page 18

H. MATSON AND CO. SOWING MIXED PASTURES SOWING MIXED PASTURES -SPECIES AND STRAINS. HINTS FOR AUTUMN SEEDING. IN recent years there has been ;. 1 substantial increase in the arei of permanent pastures sown in Can terbury. Stock owners have come t( realise that the expenditure involvet in sowing down a permanent mixet pasture is an investment that return; handsome dividends through the re sultant increased carrying capacity o; ! he farm and the extra returns obtained. The experience of practica' and succersful farmers has shown thai one of the most effective means of re ducing production costs is to carry ; larger number of the producing units whether sheep or cattle, on the sami area. This increased carrying capacity is being secured in several ways the most important being the cultivation of fodder crops, the sowing dowr of better pastures and the top-dressinc with phosphatic fertilisers of sown anc natural pastures. With each method ; certain cash outlay is necessary—the amount required per acre being greatest where new pastures are beint .own. If. however, the sowing down i; done with reasonable care and the resultant pasture is properly managec and protected from overstocking. i; will remain productive for manj years. NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR PERMANENT PASTURE IS, THERE IS ONLY A VERY SHORT PERIOD IN THE YEAR WHEN IT SUPPLIES ALL THE MINERALS NEEDED BY LIVE STOCK. WITH THE PRESENT PRICES OF WOOL AND SHEEP, YOUR FLOCK HAS NOW BECOME AN ASSET INSTEAD OF A LIABILITY, AND CONSEQUENTLY YOU SHOULD KEEP IT HEALTHY BY USING • MOOKI SPRINGS LIXIT" ' MOOKI SPRINGS LTXIT" A BLOCK IN EVERY PADDOCK MEANS HEALTHY EWES AND SAPPY LAMBS. H. MATSON & CO. Mixed pastures may be sown down in either the Autumn or Spring. Frequently one hears of failures with both Autumn and Spring sowing, but usually the trouble is due to some factor other than the time of seeding. Since the establishment of a permanent pasture is a comparatively costly business, it is highly desirable that these failures be reduced to a minimum. Failure may be due to any one of a number of causes, of which the most common are inadequate preparation of the seed bed. sowing too deeply, and the use of unsuitable strains of grasses and clovers. Most grass seeds are ■very small, and it should be obvious that a fine, firm seed bed is necessary to ensure an even germination. Unfortunately, this preparation of the .seed bed frequently does not receive the attention it warrants, and the result is a poor or patchy germination, while the young plants that do grow may be smothered by the stronger gro.ving weeds that should have been destroyed by cultivation before the mixture was sown. The preparation advisable will depend on the condition of the land and the use to which it has been put. If it has been under a preliminary crop such as oats, potatoes, etc., one or two cultivations and a stroke with light harrows may be all that are necessary to bring the surface soil to a fine tilth, and produce a firm, shallow seed bed. If, on the other hand, the area to be sown has been out to grass, its proper preparation involves a little more work. A short period of fallow is desirable, so that weed seeds present in the soil may be germinated and destroyed by subsequent cultivations. This ensures a clean seed bed and a good start for the young grasses and clovers. At the same time, these cultivations bring the soil into a condition of tilth suitable to the germination of the small grass seeds. In some cases, where weeds are likely to be troublesome, it is advisable to crop the area for a season or two before sowing down the pasture mixture. Having prepared a satisfactory seed bed, the next step should be the selection of the species to be sown. In this selection the grower must be guided largely by climatic and soil conditions. In regard to the climate, the most important factor, of course, is the rainfall. In districts such as the North'-west shower districts along the foothills, a mixture of both summer find winter growing grasses and i.-lovers may be sown, whereas in districts where summer rainfall is light, only winter and spring growing plants fhould be put in. Soil considerations nre equally important, since certain grasses and clovers that do well on a heavy soil will not thrive on lighter soils. White Clover and Perennial Ryegrass, for example, require heavy soils, while Subterranean Clover is more suited to a lighter country. The species best suited to a particular case xvill depend also on the requirements of the farm. Thus if winter feed is the main consideration, winter-growing species such as the rye grasses or subterranean clover should be used. If, on the other hand, summer feed is needed, summer-growing species such ;is Cocksfoot and Red Clover should be used. Under other conditions, a carefully balanced mixture of both .■winter and summer growers would give grazing the year round. | DESPONDENT COWS. NOT THAT A COW EVER LOOKS EXACTLY HILARIOUS, BUT SOME LOOK POSITIVELY DEPRESSED, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO DO NOT GET THEIR REGULAR RATION OF BUT SERIOUSLY. AS A CONDITIONER, APPETISER, AND A MILK PRODUCER, THERE IS NOTHING QUITE AS GOOD AS "MOOKI SPRINGS LIXIT." ORDER A REGULAR SUPPLY FROM YOUR USUAL AGENT, OR H. MATSON & CO. N.Z. DISTRIBUTORS, CHRISTCHURCH, i Almost as important as the question of species is that of strain. Experience has shown conclusively that many failures in the establishment of permanent pastures have been due to the use of unreliable strains of seeds. Ryegrass seeds harvested from old « tablished pastures have proved to be excellent Perennial type, while Banks Peninsula Cocksfoot has become world famous. Good strains will give *i;;e to a pasture that will last for many years, whereas inferior seed will give a return for one or two years only. Since there is but little difference in the cost of good and bad seed, the wise Itiyer will obtain his requirements from a reliable source, and see that he gets the best. %««.„>.. H- MATSON & CO.