CLOVER AMONG THE TUSSOCKS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27896, 18 February 1956, Page 7

CLOVER AMONG THE TUSSOCKS

Practical Means Of Introduction RESULTS OF TRIAL DISCUSSED There is growing interest in the improvement of high country tussock grasslands by the introduction of clovers accompanied by topdressing, states the “New Zealand Journal of Agriculture.” discussing the results of a trial on ploughable tussock countryin Canterbury. Aerial oversowing or the employment of grassland coulter tips for subsurface drilling of seeds and fertiliser offer practical means of introducing legumes over vast areas of tussock grassland swards without an immediate disturbance of the existing vegetative cover.

Though the sowing of clovers in tussock grasslands is by no means a recent practice, the full significance of introducing legumes into these environments has yet to be determined. Evidence from the Canterbury trial indicates that red clover, alsike, and white clover can be readily established in fes.'ue tussock high country by

subsurface drilling of seed and fertiliser with grassland tips, by orthodox broadcasting of seed and fertiliser on an undisturbed surface, and by broadcasting on a surface disturbed by pitchpole harrowing. Some Findings It was found that subsurface drilling with grassland tips gave a much more even strike and better herbage production in the first two seasons than either broadcasting on an undisturbed surface or after pitchpole harrowing.

On the other hand the inclusion of grass species, perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot, in the initial oversowing does not appear warranted unless some form of prior surface cultivation such as pitchpole harrowing is adopted or the existing cover is naturally open. This is especially so where the tussock grassland is already strongly invaded by such aggressive exotics as browntop. creeping fog, sweet vernal, and Yorkshire fog. Though in this trial the results from superphosphate have not been encouraging. experiments and farming practice in some other localities throughout the high country of Canterbury have shown that there are areas where phosphate alone will give immediate and successful results.

Similarly, it has been shown that sulphur, which occurs as the calcium sulphate impurity of superphosphate, may play as important a part as the phosphorus fraction of superphosphate in the establishment of clovers in certain tussock areas. However, successful early establishment of clovers in the hard (fescue) tussock grasslands of the upper Waimakariri river watershed would appear to depend on the use of lime (preferably applied six to 12 months in advance of seeding) and/or molybdenum in addition to phosphate fertilisers.

POINTER TO GOOD FARMING

HANDBOOK ON RECENT CONFERENCE Reports of work on animal husbandry of national importance which is carried out at the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Research Station. Ruakura, are given in “The Proceedings of the Ruakura Farmers’ Conference Week, 1955.” The panel of speakers, all of whose papers are contained in the volume, comprises primary industry personalities as well as research workers. A feature of “The Proceedings.” which makes it a valuable handbook for farmers, is that the language is simple and clear, and where measures are recommended they are specific and practical. At the end of each paper is the discussion between the speaker and the farmer audience, which contains many pointers to successful farm procedures and management. The volume shows conclusively that farm research is right up with the problems of every-day farming in New Zealand and that if increased efficiency and more production are to be obtained, the achievement must come through farmers working even more closely with research workers than they have in the past. As a ready reference, the publication. which is of over 250 pages, is enhanced in value by the fact that it is divided into sections for the sheep farmer and the dairy farmer, and one of interest to farmers generally. ‘Animal disease is a subject especially well covered. A highlight of the book, as it was at the conference, is the address by Dr. C. P. McMeekan on common misconceptions about facial eczema control in sheep and cattle. On the subject of farm costs, an excellent paper is given by Mr A. Hayward, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Lid. However, of such even merit are all the papers and so applicable to present day farming requirements that the book can be confidently recommended to all interested in New Zealand’s primary industry.

N.Z. GROSS FARMING INCOME

INCREASE LAST YEAR An increase of £8.500,000 in the gross farming income for New Zealand in the 1954-55 production season is shown in provisional figures given in the January Abstract of Statistics issued by the Department of Statistics. The total income for all groups was £283.900.000, an increase of 3 per cent, on the figure for 1953-54. The figure for the agricultural group was £29.100.000, which is a decrease of £lOO,OOO, or 3 per cent.; for the pastoral group £162,100.000. an increase of £8.200,000, or 5 per cent.: and for dairying, poultry and bees group £92,700.000. an increase of £400.000, or 0.4 per cent. The index of volume of production for all groups, on base 1938-39 (equals 100), is 136, compared with 133 for the previous year. Value and volume have increased by approximately equal percentages, indicating little movement in price levels between the two years. The volume increase, like the value increase, is mainly in the pastoral group. Meat and wool contributed their share to the increase in volume of pastoral production, while higher lamb prices further increased the financial return to the farmer. Machine dressing figures for grass and clover seeds for the year ended October 31, 1955, show that production of the more important varieties, other than perennial and short rotation ryegrass, was lower than in the 1953-54 season. There was a particularly sharp drop in the quantity of white clover dressed from 7,400,0001 b to 4,600,0001 b.

TOPICS OF THE DAY

EARTHWORMS AND | INSECTICIDES The use of chemical methods for the control of the common grass grub has I led to a rapid increase in the amount I of insecticide applied to agricultural . land. The effect of DDT and benzene hexachloride on earthworms has therefore been investigated by New Zealand i scientists. These insecticides, on the standard treatment recommendations developed by the Entomological Research Station, Department of Scientific | and Industrial Research, have saved many thousands of acres of pasture each year, but investigations are continuing on their possible ill-effect on beneficial soil organisms. The toxicity of DDT. crude BHC and gamma BHC to earthworms in soil was tested at various dosages in a series of laboratory and field experiments. Earthworms used were two species commonly found in pasture soils throughout New Zealand. In the laboratory, counts were made of earthworms surviving after eight weeks’ exposure to insecticides. In the field, earthworm counts were made 23 and 83 weeks after insecticide application. In soils of moderate organic matter content al l three insecticides had little effect on earthworms at dosages up to 201 b of actual toxicant an acre. This amount of insecticide would normally be applied in the field over a minimum period of 30 years for the control of grass grub. The dosage of 21b of actual toxicant an acre every third year recommended by the Entomological Research Station for grass grub control will not be harmful to earthworm populations.

WHAT CAUSES SOGGY POTATOES?

Sogginess in potatoes is influenced by a number of factors, the most important of which are starch content, variety and seasonal climatic conditions. Potatoes with low starch content are normally soggy when cooked. If cool damp weather persists during the few weeks just prior to harvest the potatoes are likely to be more soggy than if conditions are dry and warm. The Fruit and Vegetable Products Laboratory of the Canada Department of Agriculture at Morden, Manitoba, has carried on microscopic investigations of potato tissues before, during and after cooking, to study relationships between sogginess and tissue structure. It was noted that the starch grains in each tissue cell during cooking expand and take up the cell liquid. In mealy potatoes the cooked cells separate from each other readily and retain their form, while in soggy products the cooked cells lose their form and mush together. The amount of starch in each cell is likely to have an effect on the ability of the cell to retain its form when cooked. The type of starch also seems to influence the soggy condition. The information obtained from laboratory analysis of potatoes in regards to starch, cell structure, etc., will provide the research man with the tools to combat such a condition.

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

The first scheme to test the feasibility of eliminating foot-rot in sheep over a large, prescribed farming area has been started in a district north of Whangarei which is virtually segregated by natural boundaries. It contains about 25,000 breeding ewes. The scheme, which was proposed by the New Zealand Wool Board, is being supervised by officers of the Animal Industry Division of the Department of Agriculture under the over-all control of the department’s veterinarian at Whangarei, Mr C. R. Ensor. Four groups of about six farmers each will be assisted by four livestock instructors. The eradication measures are those which are known as the Beveridge technique, which was developed in Australia. The system includes stringent control of the movement of all sheep, examination of all animals and segregation of affected animals after treatment until they are pronounced free from footrot. The scheme calls for a high degree of cooperation from the farmers involved and Department of Agriculture officers are very appreciative of the Northland group’s acceptance of the offer to participate, because it will mean fairly arduous conditions in the management of stock. The Northland area was selected for the footrot trial after various areas in both the North and South Islands had been inspected by the Animal Industry Division.

ONE OF YEAR’S BIG EVENTS

This year the annual conference of the New Zealand Grassland Association will be held at Lincoln College

from November 27 to 29. A very interesting programme is being prepared. There will be papers presented by New Zealand farmers and research workers, and a special feature will be the napers given by some of the overseas delegates who will be attending the International Grassland congress at Palmerston North earlier in the month. The opening paper is to be given by Dr. W. Davies, director of the Grassland Research Institute, England. When the programme is completed the details will be announced. The president of the association is Professor J. W. Calder, of Canterbury Agricultural College.

RECORD SHEEP POPULATION

The sheep population in New Zealand at June 30. 1955. reached a record of 39.117,000. This is an increase of 1,106.000 over the figure for 1954. Breeding ewes also reached a record of 26,186.000, an increase of 1,336.000. These figures are given in a summary of the Abstract of Statistics for January issued by the Department of Statistics. The numerical increase in breeding ewes was the highest ever recorded in any one year, and in spite of the drop in the estimated lambing percentage, will ensure an increase of more than 1.000.000 in the estimated number of lambs.

“CATTLE COAXER”

To drive cattle without hurting them, a London firm has introduced a “cattle coaxer,” a small instrument that administers a sharp but harmless electric shock. It has a hard rubber casing and handle, which are virtually unbreakable, and two metal prongs connected to torch batteries housed in the casing. The makers claim that I the device cannot bruise or damage th< j hide. Possibly a “coaxer” would come i in handy during penning operations at I Addington yards!