RYES AND CLOVERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 283, 13 November 1936, Page 11

RYES AND CLOVERS

Demonstration Plots at Norsewood VALUABLE FIELD DAY Considerable interest was taken in -the field day conducted by Mr J. W. Palmer, Instructor in Agriculture, on Mr A. W. Montgomerie’s property, Norsewood. Inspection was made of the Government demonstration plots dealing with grass and clover strains, as well as manorial trials and the inoculation of clovers. The plots of the trial were examined individually and the results so far have been pleasing, although at this period of the year the clover and cocksfoot plants do not show up to a marked extent. Probably, if the country weie grassed with cattle or cows, the clover would appear more marked. The whole of the grass plots. were laid down with an application- or half a ton of carbonate of lime per acre with 3cwt. super, and, since then the plots have received an additional dressing of scwt, carbonate of lime and 3cwt. super. The grazing has been controlled solely with sheep and recently, when the flush of feed started to come away, it was necessary to stock this area with 25 sheep to the acre for a period of ten days prior to the closing of the area for the growth to come away before the field day. The biggest differences were noted on the rye plots: — Plot 1, low U.V. test Canterbury: This plot showed a decided weakness and has practically been replaced by clovers. Plot 2, certified mother seed: A good plot, rye forming a dense sward, aided with clovers. Plot 3, bad false perennial: No rye existed here, and had it not been for the better type of mother clover, there would have been very little coyer on this plot; it would probably have reverted to sweet vernal, sorrel, etc. Plot 4, certified permanent pasture: A good plot. The rye has formed a dense sward with clovers. Plot 5, low U.V. test Southland: This is another weak plot although not as bad as either Plot 1 or Plot 3. Plot 6, imported best quality Irish commercial: On a par with plot 7. This plot has weakened considerably and by next season the ryes will probably have disappeared; Plot 7, Scottish: On a par with Plot 6. Plot 7, Selection: This plot is quite a good one and compares a little than mother and permanent pasture. COCKSFOOT SERIES. • In the cocksfoot scries, Akaroa and selection of Lincoln College C 23 were quite strong, while Danish, British hay or grazing, and British indigenous were on a par but ' much weaker in establishment. The plains was probably next to that of Akaroa and selection. With the clover, the certified mother seed plot,. certified permanent pasture plot and selection plot, wer e the most outstanding, the selection plot being the best and the certified mother plot the next. Kentish Wild White had established well, but this being a very small leafed clover, it does not produce to the same extent as those mentioned above. New Zealand ordinary and the imported Dutch had shown quite a good establishment, although the imported Dutch was being replaced quickly by the volunteer New Zealand white.

With the red clovers, certified Montgomery was easily the best. Broad Red was showing well, but it has weakened considerably. This can probably be attributed to hard grazing of sheep as ordinary Broad Red clover does not last under these conditions. Timothy was showing quite well. Also, Crested Dogstail was showing well. ; In all the base mixtures, such as certified mother seed, .certified cocksfoot, certified mother white clover and red clover, together with Italian Rye, form a very good mixture and have produced a good dence sward. With heavy stocking the tendency is for the rye-white clover dominaney with a little other species showing. This is probably chiefly due to the fertility which is raised.

MANURE SERIES. Of the manure series, ammoniated super showed quite well,while Seychelles phosphates were very much slower acting, with sward less dense. Super lime and super lime potash were pipbably the most outstanding plots. Basic slag plus lime and basic slag plus potash wer 0 not far behind. There was quite a good lime response indicated over the plots, with super not very marked to the eye. The areas treated with lime showed a much denser sward, darker in colour, and producing more rye growth.

The no-manure areas looked very poverty-stricken and they certainly did not possess the density in association. The inoculation trials showed no difference in inoculated clover plots and uhinoculated clover plots. An inspection was made of a young pasture sown in the autumn with ryegrass, white clover, crested dogstail and subterranean clover, and also included with the mixture was 5 ounces of soft turnips. This young paddock showed an excellent sward,and the subterranean clover was doing exceptionally well, and in no way was it dominating the grass species. At the end of the afternoon an in speetion was made of the pastures which were entered in the pasture competition and which lead the competition for spring, judging. Here one saw a rye-white clover dominant pasture ol very good density, very even, with little or practically no weed growth. Thanks must be given to Mr Mont gornerie lor the way in .which be has co-operated with the Department ot Agriculture in the laying down of this experiment. The field day concluded with Mr M. Olsen, chairman of the. Young Farmers’ Club, passing a vote of thanßs to Mr Palmer for the able way in which he had conducted the field day.