VALUE OF ENSILAGE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 10

VALUE OF ENSILAGE

Safeguard for Farmers DROUGHT-RESISTING CROPS Dominion Special Service Palmerston North, April 30. The value of ensilage as a safeguard against shortage of fodder was stressed by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at the opening of the new science wing at Massey Agricultural College to-day. The lime deficiency of New Zealand soils was also commented upon by his Excellency. J “The rapid and confident development of the economically-developable land of this Dominion, such as is favoured in tlie national interest by all parties in the State, would appear to depend upon the steady prosecution of a systematic soil survey, with resulting soil classification on the one hand, and upon the scientic ascertainment of such soil deficiencies as can be made good within the limits of remunerative expenditure on the other,” said his Excellency. “In both connections, work of great national importance is in progress under the aegis of the Department of Scientific and Industrial ■ Research, that in connection with the Pakihi lands of the Nelson province adumbrating the early conversion at no great cost of an immense tract of at present worthless land into a national asset of high productivity. “After a prolonged study of agricultural conditions on the spot in many countries of the world, I cannot help being impressed with the relatively favourable natural conditions under which farm husbandry is pursued in this Dominion. On the other hand, there appeal - to be limiting factors in operation which restrict output, and involve avoidable loss. Of these. I will only mention two. Lime Deficiency.

“The first is the widespread lime deficiency of New Zealand soils, often accompanied by a similar deficiency of phos-. phates. This lime deficiency shows itself in such plant diseases as club-root in turnips and other cruciferous plants, and such animal ailments as dopiness and Xanthin Calculi in sheep, and—most glaringly—in the prevalence of weeds, indicative of soil acidity, such as sparry, sheep’s sorrel, sweet-scented vernal, bracken and gorse. Remarkable illustrations of the beneficial effects upon the health and milk yield of dairy cattle of dressing the land with lime or of adding lime to dressings of Superphosphate have been brought to my personal notice when travelling about the country. Deep-rooted Crops. , “The other limiting factor is the prevalence of long-continued local droughts, involving a cessation of plant growth and immense pecuniary losses through the death or emaciation of live stock. I have myself witnessed this condition with deep regret and sympathy in Marlborough province last November, in Canterbury Plain last January, and in Hawke's Bay last February. . “It leads me to urge upon the agricultural community in this Dominion with all the fervour that I can command; first, the value of ensilage as a safeguard against shortage of fodder, and secondly, the desirability of considering seriously the more extensive cultivation of two deep-rooted crops, namely, maize and lucerne, in which drought-stricken countries throughout the world seek economic salvation, as a possible means of at least alleviating, if not preventing, the disastrous results of prolonged drought. Of the first of these crops T will only say that it,has th" merit of mnkio" excellent ensilage, a merit which lucerne —the more valuable crop— does not .possess.”