ASHLEY DENE FARM

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 5

ASHLEY DENE FARM

Carrying Capacity Increased REVIEW OF 1947-48 SEASON Experimental work on growing species other than ryegrass and subterranean clover was being carried on at Ashley Dene, says the Canterbury Agricultural College annual report for ■the 1947-48 season. Phalaris tuberosa, cocksfoot and “grazing” lucerne were being sown to determine their usefulness in withstanding the ravages of drought snd grass grubs. The area of the Ashley Dene property is 878 acres of light shingle land, of which approximately 80 acres are reserved for experimental work on pastures. On the remaining 800 acres pastures of subterranean clover have been established on about 600 acres, ryegrass and white clover on 60 acres of heavier land and lucerne on about 50 acres. Hay and silage are saved each year from the lucerne areas to provide a guaranteed source of winter feed for the stock.

The main feature at Ashley Dene has been the development work which has been cafried on since 1938 and which has resulted in the carrying capacity rising from 850-900 ewes to more than 2200 ewes and ewe hoggets. The value of subterranean clover treated with lime and superphosphate has been clearly demonstrated, together with the use of lucerne as a sure source of feed for the stock in times of shortage. In 1946-47 1680 ewes and 406 ewe hoggets were carried and last season this was increased to 1824 ewes and 406 ewe hoggets. Half the ewes were mated with Romney rams and half with Southdown rams, the former to breed replacements and the latter for fat lambs. Lambing in 1946-47 averaged 110 per cent, and last season 120 per cent. Apart from the ewe lambs retained for the flock all lambs were sold fat off the property. In 1946-47 of 1848 lambs tailed, 1370 were sold fat at an average weight of 32.51 b. Last season of 2187 lambs tailed 300 were sold with the ewes (all counted) and 1400 were sold fat at an average weight of about 321 b. The wool clip for 1946-47 was 20,7341 b from the flock, the yield an acre 25.91 b, and the monetary return about 42s an acre net. The clip last season was 21,3441 b, about 26.71 b an acre, with a monetary return of 60s 6d an acre. In addition to the normal cultivation of turnips, rape and green feed, which averaged 40 acres in each crop a year, there had been instituted the practice of ploughing old subterranean clover paddocks for wheat. The yield in 1946-47 from 60 acres averaged 42 bushels to the acre and in the next season the average was 34 bushels from 32 acres. Later the wheat crop was worked up, sown in greenfeea oats and grass and topdressed so that the regenerating subterranean clover was encouraged.