PASTURE CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 92, 30 March 1936, Page 11

PASTURE CONTROL

Importance of Sowing Best Quality Seed | ADDRESS TO FARMERS Many points of great value to fanners were brought out by Mr. J. W. Palmer, Instructor in Agriculture, in an instructive address on pasture control and management to members of the Hawke’s Bay branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union in Hastings on Saturday afternoon. The speaker stressed the great value of sowing only the highest quality seed, and showed how, by careful management, many common defects in pastures could be kept out or else overcome. In his opening remarks Mr Palmer ; said that a considerable area of hill country in Hawke’s Bay was going I back, and this was causing concern to farmers. The extent chat it was deteriorating was governed to a great degree by the rainfall. Farmers were realising that their stock was not doing a* they should, although the feed appeared to be plentiful. The problem could be tackled only by the establishment of good pastures, the capable management of which was of vital importance. Experiments had shown that high results had been obtained off pastures largely through the efforts of the farmer himself. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SEED It was essential when purchasing seed that the utmost attention should be paid to its germination, it being important to sow good seed whether it be on hilly or second-class country. In most cases the seed bed was established once in a long period. The neglect of some farmers in the past in failing to use the right mixture when sowing had resulted in their country going back to danthonia, fern or scrub. On the flats, as the result of inferior mixtures, pastures were opening up, with the result that a great invasion of flat weeds was taking place. Once the seed was sown it should bo topdressed and adequately maintained in order to make a first-class pasture. Mr Palmer quoted an instance of how a farmer on the coast had been tackling the problem of maintaining his pastures in a thorough manner, and as a result the increase in his returns had been phenomenal. Mr Palmer stressed the advantage of hard grazing, and mentioned several farmers who were getting the best out of their property as a result. He stated that certain farmers within an easy distance of Hastings were carrying eight sheep to the acre on their pasture and were doing their stock particularly well. When they spelled their paddocks flat weeds did not appear, as was the case in many other pastures on adjoining properties. THREE ESSENTIAL FACTORS. Three great factors essential for good farming were (1) methods of pasture establishment, (2) management, and (3) methods for coping with weeds. Dealing with the question of sowing seed following a crop, Mr. Palmer said that a sowing after rape generally had resulted in the best stands. Owing to the rape being a strong growing crop, weeds had been kept out. It was essential that the seed-bed should be consolidated, otherwise a patchy strike could be expected. The use of the roller over the furrows after ploughing was generally not practised sufficiently, but where done properly great results had followed. Mr. Palmer gave as instance the result of the lack of consolidation by mentioning a crop of oats the roots of which had grown down through the thickness of furrow hut had deadened off in the space beneath as they were not able to make contact with the soil below. In the case of crops of swedes where there was usually an invasion of weeds it was an advantage to follow with a smothering crop, such as oats or barley to clean up the ground before sowing the pasture. Many farmers were inclined to rush this operation too quickly, with the result that first-class results could not be expected. In support of his contention Mr. Palmer related an instance of a paddock which had not been cleaned up being sown with three bushels of mother seed and entered for certification. It was so bad that hay could not be made of it owing to being smothered with burr. ERADICATION OF BURR Burr clover was not difficult to deal with so long as it was not allowed to | seed. Cut early and made into ensilage, then followed with hard stocking, it would soon be eradicated. In the selection of seed Mr. Palmer urged that it was essentia) that only the best should be used. The department had undertaken for the benefit of the farming community a system of certification which was a guarantee as to type and purity. By selection and breeding at the research college the standard of the seed was actually being raised. The success of a pasture depended upon the quality of the seed with which it was sown. Some growers for the sake of two or three shillings a bushel had used an inferior type of seed which had grown into poor pastures and as a result the many hundreds of pounds they had spent in clearing their land had been practically thrown away. The department, Mr Palmer explained, had made certain selections from various old-established pastures in both Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay. This seed hod been carefully planted in rows under glass and kept cultivated to keep out any voluntary types. Giving some idea of the extent of the research being carried out Mr Palmer said that 3500 samples were under test. AU the available stock had been sold and from this seed would be harvested what was known as pedigree mother seed. HIGH WHITE CLOVER YIELD. He explained that the seed sown under . warm conditions stood out most conI spicuously..No. 1 grade of white clover which came from the best in Hawke's Bay had produced 30 tons of ioddei per acre in a season as against four tons for the ordinary volunteer white cover. The cost for this grade was 5/pcr pound as against 2/- which meant 26 tons for 3/- but the benefit of using the best quality seed was not generally viewed in this way.

To use the best seed really amounted to a guarantee of a good pasture if properly managed. Burnt country required the best quality seed as much as anyvrhere, yet he knew of a farmer who recently used a mixture of blowings from a mill, soma succulent clover and a little rye on his burn. In this case it was not difficult to know what to expect. Referring to the treatment of young pasture, Mr Palmer explained that it was important that it should not be lei to grow too lengthy before being grazed with sheep On no account should heavy stock be put on it until it was consolidated Mr Palmer added that it was an advantage to allow a young pasture to go over the first summer without a machine being put on it. There would not be so much opening up of the sward which permitted of an invasion of weeds. If care was taken of the pasture for the first year the farmer would go a long way towards keeping flnt weeds out and also saving the sward from opening. SPELLING THE PASTURES. The spelling of pastures was important as with eating off quickly and spelling, vigorous growth would be promoted. Spelling would permit of reseeding, which could be followed with heavy crushing to advantage. Capability of management would prove the success of any farmers’ country. The grazing habits of stock was something important to note. Subdivision was frequently a great salvation to hill country, the cost of any necessary water supply being comparatively small to the outlay of first clearing lands. The introduction of subterranean clover had proved to be a wonderful benefit, and it had not resulted in other grasses being pushed out as some farmers anticipated would be the ease. The use of the manure bag would be found to be frequently the quickest remedy to various defects in the pastures. In Southern Hawke’s Bay during the last few years farmers could see that their land was going back. Sinee they had got to work with manures the results bad been wonderful. The wool had shown a definite improvement. Tulira was also respond" ing tn manures. On one farm, an area that was once practically worthless was now carrying six ewes to the acre. Replying to questions, Mr Palmer said that the use of superphosphates could be carried on indefinitely. On a property so treated for 150 years, tests did not reveal any acidity.

Harrows should be used for the distribution of droppings only. If used to tear out flat weeds they wil] tear out grass also. Weeds could be controlled by raising the surface fertility to the rye and white elover levels.

Top-dressing when the seed was sown gave the seed something on which to start away quickly. If not done at this stage some time would pass before it could be carried out without detriment to the pasture. Mr Palmer was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.