IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 24, 23 October 1907, Page 2

IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES.

WHAT oral FARMERS ARE DOING. As an outcome of the New Zealand Agricultural Cohfercnco recently held in Wellington, writes our Wairarapa correspondent, circulars embodying the following queries have been forwarded to all agricultural and pastoral associations throughout New Zealand for general distribution amongst the members: — What is the character of your soil ? What grasses and clovers have proved most successful in your district on: (a) clay lands; (b) loam lands; (c) light sandy soil; (d) volcanic lands; (e) drained swamps; (f) rough, hilly, pastoral country. What mixture of grasses would you recommend and what' amount of seed per aero for: (a) permanent pasture; (b) temporary pasture. What new kinds of grasses havo recently . been introduced into your district, and , which havo proved most valuable?. AVhat do -you consider the best droughtresisting grasses? Have you tried Paspahim Dilatatum, and, if so, with what success ? _ ' Can you givo any information with regard to the trial of forago plants, such as Millet, Sorghum, Saltbush, etc.? Have you been moro successful with grasses sown aftor turnips or rape than with grasses sown after grain? Have you found that cutting grass the first year after sowing proves detrimental? Do "you recommond sowing grasses alouo, or with a small mixture of rape, oats, Capo barley, or turnips? AVhat methods do you adopt of preparing the land prior to sowing? Do you think it is better to sow grasses in spring or in autumn? . D.o you recommond summer fallowing? What have you found the most successful method of dealing with surface sowing on

rough, hilly, pastoral country? _ \ Have the runs in your neighbourhood deteriorated as far as grasses aro' concerned? What nativo grasses have proved most successful in your district? What have you found tho best means of improving pasture land without breaking up?