AUTUMN SOWING.

Dunstan Times, 13 March 1933, Page 5

AUTUMN SOWING.

Except on localities subject to relatively heavy frosts, autumn sowing of seed for permanent pasture is (on the basis of field experience) rightly much favoured, and generally March sowing gives best results. Frequently in March the soil possesses both the warmth and moisture which foster rapid and vigorous establishment. If the sowing is postponed until late autumn or early winter, poor establishment particularly of clovers, is likely to occur. The sowing of other crops, such as oats, with the pasture seeds is sometimes advocated' on the ground that the companion crop will protect the pasture seedlings. As a ruje, such crops which are variously called cover or nurse crops are of little or no value as a means of protection, and may readily become a cause of injury on account of robbing the pasture seedlings of moisture, and especially of direct sunlight. Such injury is likely to be minimized if the companion crop is sown thinly and not allowed to mature, but even under such circumstances the possibility of injurious shading is not completely eliminated, and so the use generally of companion crops is not recommended. Exceptional cases which justify the use of cover crops may occur in exposed situations, and in such cases white oats or barley may suitably be usedAlgerian oats usually are not suitable on account of their relatively slow growth in its early stages, when shelter might be needed by the pasture seedlings. The objective in the formation of seed-beds for pastures should be a fine consolidated condition.