GRASSES AND CLOVERS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2016, 23 December 1870, Page 3

GRASSES AND CLOVERS.

The extended cultivation of crops for the special purpose of stock feeding has in all ages been the crucial test of the state of agriculture, for it has not been until the science and practice have attained a high degree of development that the culture of grasses, natural and artificial, has entered largely into the agricultural system of any country or people. Perhaps in no country nor in any age has the culture of grasses been so general as during the last few years in Great Britain. With a limited area of soil, and a yearly augmenting population, the skill and energies of her farmers have been enlisted to keep up the requisite supplies of animal food, and to their credit be it said, that their abilities have hitherto proved equal to the occasion. So large an amount of meat has never previously been raised on an area of land as is now. done, and with the experience of the last half century before us, we may well hesitate to assign a limit to the progress of this branch of agriculture. Although the English farmer is enabled to call in the assistance of artifical food of various descriptions, such is not the case with farmers in these colonies, whose only means of increasing the yield of meat per acre is through improvement of the pasturage. Towards this point, then, the energies of all who are engaged in stock rearing have for some time past been directed, and, it must be admitted, most successfully. The grazing capabilities of many thousands of acres of runs have been increased, in some cases, even three and fourfold ; simply by sowing at suitable seasons, mixtures of the natural and artificial grasses ; whilst on cultivated farms those grasses are now generally recognised, not only as a most efficient medium for. restoring the fertility of long cropped lands, but also as a means of enabling the farmer to carry on dairy operations successfully throughout the year, as well as to keep an increased number of stock, of various descriptions, the manure of these being again the means of increasing the subsequent yield of his grain crops. In agriculture, a judicious rotation of crops has long been held as a leading principle, and an indispensable condition to success, and in nature the same lesson is taught, in the number and variety of plants that are found growing together, and that form what is generally termed— pasturage. In recognition of this fact, which may be termed a natural illustration of the principle of rotation, agriculturists have generally adopted, the practice of sowing natural and artificial grasses, or in other words, true grasses and clovers ; for it is to the latter that the term "artificial" has been attached, and is now very generally applied. The use of mixtures in pasturage is also valuable in conducing to the health of stock which gaze upon it, indeed it may net be irrelevant to suggest that some of the diseases to which stock on confined areas of pasturage are subject, have their origin in the want of diversity of food, and the absence of those forms of vegetation to which animals, when at large, instinctively resort. It is well known to flock masters of experience, that lands which produce certain tonic and carminative herbs, do not rot sheep, although other of the conditions under which rot is produced may chance to be present. The sheep, again, is a "mountain loving animal," its favorite food being the short dry grasses, and even' wiry herbs, which form the natural vegetation of elevated sites. The coarse heavy grasses of lowland pastures, whilst they assist the rapid development of the carense, are inadequate to maintain it in health during the seasons in which moisture is unusually prevalent. Thus, in the selection of grasses for a sheep pasture, the coarser kinds which are adapted for cattle should be sparingly introduced, resort being bad to those sorts which experience has shown are equal to maintaining the health of the flock under otherwise unfavourable conditions. In this climate, however, regard must also be had to the probable occurrence of droughts, and thus it may be politic to use some varieties or species, that will form a special provision against such emergencies. Whilst mixtures of grasses and herbage, then, are

essential, not only by way of benefit to the land, but also as a means of maintaining the health of the stock, much discrimination is needed in the selecting and proportioning the varieties; the nature of the, soil, the temperature of the climate, the altitude of the locality, its conditions of drought and moisture, and the special objects to be attained, each and all must be matter of calculation. In the southern portions of this continent are to be met with in various ' localities, or at different seasons, .every variety of climate, from the frost and snow, of an English winter to the sirocco of the 11 tropics ; it is evident, therefore, the elements of grass mixtures must be greatly varied, to suit such opposite conditions of climate. Nor is the variation of soils less remarkable, for whilst many of the ferruginous uplands are incapable of sustaining a summer growth of grasses of the ordinary kinds, there are deep alluvial flats, on which, even in the driest weather, the clovers and many of the grasses wear a verdant appearance. During a period of seventeen years we have made those various conditions our peculiar study ; we have devoted our time and attention to the growth of all descriptions of grasses, under almost every condition in which it is possible to place them, and the knowledge thus accumulated we are enabled to place at the disposal of our customers, and to apply it for their benefit.. In a publication of so limited an extent, it would be out of place to attempt a classification of soils, and description of the kinds, of seeds suitable for each ; we are, therefore, content to treat the subject in general' terms, leaving those matters to be dealt with in the ordinary course of business. We may, however, before we conclude, indicate a few of the properties of the principal kinds. In the meantime, we wish to mention one means of increasing our supplies of pasturage, and of rendering them less dependent upon the chances of the season. We allude, of course, to irrigation. On the majority of hill farm 9, the formation of the ground affords facilities for the detention of storm water that now passes away and is lost. Wherever this i 3 the case, we conceive it would be politic to turn it to account, and from trials on a limited scale that have come under our observation, we are convinced of the feasibility of irrigating pasture lands so as to ensure a profitable return for the necessary outlay of capital. All grasses not being equally adapted for irrigation, we have also given attention to this point, and are prepared to supply such' mixture as will fully meet the requirements of the cultivator. For ornamental lawns, pleasure grounds, and cricket grounds (it being desirable that the surface should wear a uniform and verdant appearance throughout the year), the mixtures are specially designed to secure that result. For such purposes, coarse grasses are inadmissable, and as we have not in this case to consider the feeding properties of the grasses, we are enabled to employ several varieties that are of little value in that respect, but which possess the; special properties of fineness, and, with proper treatment, perpetual verdure. We may now devote a brief space to the properties of th« principal grasses. All grasses and clovers used in pasturage, excepting lucerne, attain their greatest development during the spring ; and were it not for the occurrence of dry weather, as the season advances, they might all be sown as in England. Lucerne being a hot weather . .product, should form part of every perma- , nent pasture ; but where grasses are sown in rotation with other crops, the propriety of using it will depend upon the nature of the crops with which it will have to alternate ; for lucerne once established, is with difficulty eradicated, and this, which forms its great claim to participate in a permanent pasture, may be highly objectionable under other circumstances. The presence of lucerne is no obstacle to cropping with wheat, oats, or barley ; the land may be ploughed and sown irrespective of its presence, and when the grain has been cut, the lucerne will soon attain strength again, and form a valuable pasturage on which to fold sheep for the purpose of enriching the land for another corn crop. Lucerne, however,, grows but little during winter, or even in cool weather, when other grasses are abundant. It requires good land, which should be subsoiled, unless it be naturally open>to t a considerable depth. When sown 'by' itself, the best course is to drill at intervals of eighteen inches ; Borne growers leave intervals of only a foot, but the plant never grows so finely, or yields so much feed as when it has more room ; and thus it bappens that it always does better when sown by itself, when it can be kept clean by hoeing, than when growing in mixed pastures. Amongst grasses that withstand our driest summers on ordinary farm land, are soft grass, cocksfoot, cow grass, rib grass, and alsike clover ; all these remain green, and yield a satisfactory amount of feed, when most of the other kinds have withered ; though even when as dry as hay, many grasses are excellent feed, and possess good fattening qualities. The soft grass is specially adapted for sour land, such as newly . drained peaty swamps. The rib-grass (plantago lanceolata) grows freely even in > the poorest soils, and all the year round it is relished by sheep and horses ;'• cattle, however, rarely choose it until other herb- 1 age fails. ' For general pasturage, for all seasons of. the year, nothing surpasses the perennial rye grass (the -Italian variety is better adapted for land that can be irrigated). In this colony there are very many old pastures of rye grass, and on good soils, such as red and chocolate loams, which constitute a largo proportion of our agri-' cultural lands, the pasture seems to improve with age, provided care has been taken not to overstock it. There is a difficulty in so proportioning the amount of stock to the area of pasture as to insure that the latter be never overstocked, for it is impossible to foretell the character of the weather; thus, in the event of the occurrence of unusuully long drought, the most prudent managers find themselves at fault. The most profitable method of grazing pasture land is to have it divided into three or four paddocks; or if the holding be very extensive,' into sets of paddocks, three or four, to the sat, allowing one only of each set to be stocked at one time. It is better to have four paddocks than three, and to keep the stock from five to seven days, according to season and circumstances, in each. Both the yield and quality of the dairy produce are immensely improved under such a system of managing the pastures. Not only does each animal give more and better milk, but three head can be well kept where only two would otherwise contrive to find a living. . The stockowner will act wisely who devotes much attention to keeping the ground well covered with grass. When the

grassy covering is once broken, the drought quickly effects an entrance, and then the rest of the grass very soon disappears. Overstocking is, therefore, a serious evil, and a few head too many is often the cause of great financial disaster. It should be a leading principle to keep the pastures at all seasons understocked. It is obvious, therefore, that if they are to be so kept during the dry months, say December to Februnry inclusive, they must be very much understocked during the spring season, when the grasa is making its most rapid growth. Thir is the time at which the mischief is usually done. Springers and newly-calved cows are cheap in the spring season, and the abundance of feed tempts the farmer to invest in them. Dry weather sets in, and the grass disappears as by magic ; long ere the dry season has passed, the greater pnrt of tbe herd is dry too, so that the owner is shut out from the butter mnrket just when be should be making his pile. The well known prairie grass is also calculated to be of great service to the stockowner. Like all plants that produce largely, it takes a great deal out of the soil, but when sown upon the deep rich soils of the river flats (such as those on the margin of the Yarra) it evinces no signs of exhaustion. It is as good now as ever upon these flats, as it in also on some of the agricultural land in the Moonee Ponds district. Prairie grass is invaluable for supplying green fodder through the winter. Even on the uplaitds a heavy cutting can be commenced in May, and continued thenceforward until the dry season arrives. If water for irrigating be available, growth continues all the year round, so that several cuttings may be taken during the warm months. Our 1 experience of this grass has assured us that the most profitable method of management is to sow it alone, and cut it just as lucerne is done, A good sized paddock of prairie grass, arranged so that it may be irrigated in hot weather, would be of immense value to a dniry farmer. During a lengthened drought lucerne acquires a flavour which taints the milk, and which dairymen have some difficulty in getting rid of. Prairie grass, on tbe contrary, is the sweetest of feed. Be the weather wet or dry, the flavour is all the same, and whether in the form of hay or green fodder, cattle, horses, and sheep prefer prairie grass to anything else. There have been instances of tbe failure of this grass to establish itself, and we may profitably devote a few words to this point. If the 6eason be dr) and the soil loose, the Bedd will lie until favourable conditions occur to cause it to germinate. If there be moisture enough it will germinate on the surface of a road, and the splendid growth of tbe grass on roads and firm soils indicates what it requires. If the soil be not sandy, and thereby naturally close-lying, a free use should be made of the roller or land presser, unless the ploughing took place a long time previously, and tbe soil happens to have been closely consolidated by rain. A very stale furrow is, in fact, an important condition towards securing the permanence of a prairie grass crop. But some cases have occurred of a successful brairding, followed by a fair growth, and yet the grass has wholly disappeared during the first summer. When prairie is sown with other grasses, the stock usually pay it such very close attention that they soon kill it out, and in a dry time, prairie thus treated would have no chance. Sheep and cows will go from plant to plant all over the fluid, rejecting other kinds, and going with only half a feed when the bite of prairie runs short. It is, therefore, better to sow prairie grass alone, whatever be the intention with regard to its management.