PASTURE MANAGEMENT

Hawera Star, Volume L, 15 May 1930, Page 4

PASTURE MANAGEMENT

SELECTION of grasses. ADDRESS AT AW AT UNA. There was an attendance of 20 fanners at the Awatuna Hall last evening, when at the invitation of the Awatuna branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Mr J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, delivered a mghiy instructive, address on “Pasture Management..’’ The. address was profusely illustrated by lantern slides operated by Mr J. \V. Palmer, also of tne Department of Agriculture. The slides uepicted pasture growths (good, had and indifferent) under approved experimental conditions, and in the various grades of soil fertility encountered throughout Taranaki, from the highly fertilised farm to the comparatively unproductive wastes of the hilly back-country. Speaking generally, said Mi - Sijpitli. Taranaki soil was of ’ a light,, spoiigy nature and its furtility not of a high i standard. In the course of years of occupation, following tfip clearance of the country by bush-felling and burning, the potash deposits had become exhausted and in vast areas in the high, broken back-country, inaccessible to the plough, there had naturally been a reversion to unprofitable second growth. High producing pastures were the backbone of the province and no better foundation for a permanent and productive growth could be selected than perennial rye and white clover. Brown top and danthonia were suited to low fertility soils in a higher degree than were the superior class English grasses, particularly in respect of areas on which fertilising and cultivation methods were difficult Qf accomplishment. For pasture purposes, experiment and use had proved New Zealand wild white clover to be the equal -*f any clover, and its inclusion for establishing a sward was desirable.

A most important factor was embodied in the selection of an approved strain of ryegrass seed, and to show the comparative qualities of seed from -"temporary” and “established” sources, a very comprehensive series of graphs were projected on to the screen. With the speaker’s lucid explanation, these were clearly understood and absorbed, as were also numerous tables of results attending the.us© of a wide range of fertilisers.

The harrowing of pastures was not Carried out to a sufficient degree, added Mr Smith. All paddocks, in his opinion, should be harrowed once a year and farmyard manure and droppings thereby thinly and evenly distributed over the surface. This would cheek the rank, tufty growths so prevalent on most pastures. In country inaccessible to the plough or harrowvs “hoof cultivation” by sheep and goats was of the highest Value. Valuable information was given by Mr Smith: in reference to the analyses of a wide range of fertilisers and the average soil and the exhaustive effects of various crops. In reply to questions, the speaker said that usually double-dressed seed was preferable to the ordinarily cleaned seed; weed seeds were eliminated in a gx-eat measure and the grass seed suffered little by- the dressing process. Farmyard manure should be spread over a wide area to avoid rank growth, which was unpalatable to stock. Pastures so treated could be sweetened by the application of lime. Geiiei-allv speaking, spring sowing of pastures was preferable to autumn sowing, particularly in wet and cold * localities. Sodium chlorate- had been proved a • certain destructive agent on ragwort, and contrary to it being injurious, it was claimed as a- stimulant to stock feeding. Experiments so far had shown iOO per cent, efficiency on areas including up to CO plants to the square chain. Labour costs for spraying were practically the same as for cutting the weed, but the advantage of spraying sodium chlorate was that it would not be a recurring cost. He undei-stood that the -supply of sodium chlorate from an American source was unlimited. Ploughing and subsequent mowing constituted the royal road to the eradication of blackberry. On tlxe motion of Mr. H. Davison, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Messrs Smith and Palmer, who, in acknowledgment, gave nil assurance that thev were pleased to render service to farmers; as officers of the department they considered it their duty. Supper was served before dispersal of the audience.