NEW ZEALAND CLOVER

Evening Post, Issue 50, 27 August 1935, Page 17

NEW ZEALAND CLOVER

ITS USE OVERSEAS

ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS

Some interesting information regarding the performance of New Zealand certified clovers, when grown overseas, has recently; come-to hand from persons arid institutions : supplied with New Zealand: seeds for testing purposes. In the British Isles, for instance, the certified; types do. well, and; the growth characteristics seem to be similar to what they arc-in New Zealand. In practically; .fevery case the' mother seed type is'superior to the-per-manent pasture type. lii Great Britain the New Zealand strains are being recommended freely/for ;• use in 'short-; [term leys. . . ■ ■':•-.>

One report from Denmark states that good results have'beeii obtained and that superiority. _ is shown over Danish ■ strains, but .another • report shows but little- superiority; ■ • - New Zealand strains haye proved suitable forthe,east coastal regions of the United States of America and Canada, extending within the latitudes of 40 degrees to 50; degrees north. They have grown particularly, well1-in British Columbia along the west coastal region/of Canada. Any where • inland in Anri^rica or in Canada winters are apparently too severe' arid' winter-kill-ing of clover- is general; Although winter killing has occurred in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and-Kansas, a certain amount of satisfactory growth has been made inland at Ottawa, Maryland, Phio,- and at one place in Northern Ontario. . .

India and Burma; have" tropical climates to whicji- our species-are quite unsuited. Fiji and the Hawaiian Islands also, are too tropical. ~

The New Zealand strains have [proved excellent for pasture purposes in Tasmania, and are doing well on : the coastal areas of New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Further inland droughts are the limiting factor unless irrigation is.possible. N In South Africa unusual climatic conditions are met. Kenya-Colony is in the'equatorial regions, but all "farming is done at high altitudes—up to 9000 feet above sea leveL Some of these parts are relatively cool and moist and have a climate similar to that of our North Island, so New Zealand clovers can be grown there. In the Orange Free State, and Natal, in' South Africa, the summer is the rainy season, and the winters are dry and cold. Farming there is done at altitudes up to 6000 feet and in some parts irrigation is necessary in the winter months.

Mother seed \yhite clover has proved particularly hardy under these conditions, and helps materially in providing winter feed.

In its certified white clover New Zealand has, according to the evidence to' hand, a very valuable pasture ; plant, and its advent is of importance equal-to that of certified- perennial; ryegrass. The encouraging, overseas reports' indicate, that the seed is a.valuable and readily-exportable commodity; --Rod clover seenis,;to; : thrive in JM^ samesituations in which? white^ clover will grow, and if fcertified seed of Montgomery . red • clover was lowered to meet competition it is thought that it^would find a.place on the British-market, m addition;to being used more. extensively an; New. Zealand itself. ; :■ -: . ...■.