THE FARM

Dunstan Times, 13 March 1933, Page 7

THE FARM

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 tire warmth and moisture which foster rapid, and vigorous establishment. It the sowing is postponed until j late autumn or early winter, I poor establishment particularly i of clovers, is likely to occur, j The sowing of other crops, I such as oats, with the pasture ' seeds is sometimes advocated ion the ground that the comI panion crop will protect tne ! pasture seedlings. As a rule, ! such crops which are variously j called cover or nurse crops are j cf little or no value as a means i of protection, and may readily I become a cause of injury on ac- | count of robbing the pasture j seedlings of moisture, and es- ! pecially of direct sunlight. Such i injury is likely to be minimized | if the companion crop is sown i thinly and not allowed to ; mature, but even under such I circumstances the possibility of j 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 used I Algerian 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 pmrdif inn