WINTER FEEDING FOR STOCK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1222, 10 June 1919, Page 6

WINTER FEEDING FOR STOCK.

tiik lv<<i>s in-* Tin-; drought. MR A. RICCOMMKNHATION. The lesson of Hi.- present drought, according In Mr A. Macpherson, Fields inslriirlur lo fit-- Agricultural Department, is \vinl<-r reeding Tor stock. Mr Macpherson is engaged actively on work which has for its object the improvement or pastures in New Zealand, and lie speaks wilh authority on the matter.

'•Th<- (rouble with the farmers generally." he saiil to an interviewer in i:iirislchurch on Monday, "is that they are n<>( making provision for winter feeding for the sheep. They have had very favourable winters generally in the past, ami although rape and turnips have been a failure for some years they have made no attempt to use such fodders as are needed now. Another thing thai the farmers will have to look to is the li-e.-iliiK-ni of ordinary pastures. They ;n-e not treating them properly now.

"The fanners' treatment of pastures is not in accord-inee with the established practice of older countries." Mr Macphersoii added. "In New Zealand as soon as the grass gels to a height of four or five inches slock are put on to it. afld when it recovers and gels a further growth of about the same length slock are again put on lo it. Now the leaves are the lungs and stomach of the plant, and it is impossible for Ihe root lo develop if the leaf portion is eaten off in the manner prevalent among most farmers in New Zealand. The result is a poor root growth, and when dry seasons set in the plant is unable to stand the want of moisture. It is not deep rooted. "It is a rule accepted by practical farmers in older countries that grass should not be grazed in this way, but that il should be allowed lo develop until il comes lo the flowering stage, and then a crop of hay taken. Afterwards i! is r.-ady for a pasture, because the root is properly developed."

Mr .1. C McKay, overseer of the ex-periim-nlal r-irrn :il Ashbnrton. who was in company willi Mr Macpherson :il the lime oT flu- interview, was appealed lo regarding Ilii* condition of .1 pasture he h:»l prepared, lie said thai ho #ll*l not graze il heavily at first, but jusl gave • I a light reeding and then took the sheep off. Part of it wont to hay in the first year. Now if was one of the lii'sl pastures in South Canterbury for that class oT land, and was an object lesson for fanners. In sowing grass. Mr Macpherson rosiimed. Hie majority or farmers never had a firm enough seed bed for the seed fo germinate in. II was necessary for successful grass-growing thai tho bed should be firmed by rolling before sowin i.'. if Ihe soil required it.

Speaking of the condition of the country at present. Mr. Macpherson said Thai in North Canterbury the effects or llv ilroiiarlil were very severe. bill in Ihe south, after leaving Rakaia. Ihe position started lo improve. Oamaru hail liad rains at night and fine clear days, and when he was there a fortnight ago there was an abundance of grass. (Hi being pressed to recommend forage planfs to meet the present silunfion. Mr. Macplierson said thai he was not at Ihe moment out lo say anything in favour of one plant a* against another. The drought would have done goo,| if it l.uiglif the farmers Ihe lesson of providing winter feed. Mr. Macplierson pointed lo a crop of silver beef on a lillle experimcnlal plot, and remarked dial thai planl. which he hail introduced lo \e\v Zealand for stock, was now highly valued in Ihe Iniled Stales, and he was filling one order for the Wool r.rowers* Association in Utah, and another for fin- Japanese; Covornmcnl. which had heard of the value or the planl as the result of the experiments in New Zealand ami later in America, lie pointed to a single plant of lucerne srowing in Ihe same, ground, and remarked Ilia! M 5 stems had been taken from the one plant at the lasl cutting. H«- added that he had visited many country centres in North Canterbury, during the shows, and the only green patches visirtle were lucerne.