Grassing Bush Country.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 7 September 1917, Page 2

Grassing Bush Country.

At a meeting of tbe Awaroa branch of the N.Z. Farmer.’ Union Mr A. W. Babbage Cintributed the following interesting paper relating to the grass ing of bush lands in the Kawhia County : “ When the first settlers oima into this district, seventeen years ago, aud commenced to put the bush lauds into pasture, they hud to follow chiefly the practice and mixture of grasses that they had used in the parts of the country they cams from, gradually learning by experience what grasses and mixtures were most suitable for he Kawhia bush clearings ; and it is with the hope that the results of my experience, and the discussion which I trust will follow, will be ol benefit to this branch of tbe Union, that I have prepared this short pspsr. “ First, in regard to the quantity per acre, 1 think I have generally sown on the light side (about 15lbs per acre), my contention being that one strung growing grass plant is worth two weedy ones which have not room to develop properly. However, I believe the tendency in other parts is towards heavier sowing (up to 30lbs per acre), the chief idea being to get a thick sward quickly, and so keep the weeds out; and there is no doubt that ot late years tbe weeds are much harder to control than formerly. " Coming to the mixture used, we will all agree that cocksfoot is still the mainstay of a bush burn, and is always used. Rye is still one of tbe chief grasses in the mixture, though not to tbe same ex'ent as it used to be. “In regard to the finer grasses, (here are some I have cut put altogether, and others 1 find still useful. I have tried Brown Top, Red Top, Fiorin, and Hard Fescue, but have of late jettisoned them as being of no use in this country. I have also cut out Timothy (though it is a grass a lot of people sow on account of tbe seed being cheap) and Meadow Foxtail as hardly worth a place. “ Of tbe finer grasses I consider still worth a place in a mixture are : Poa Trivialis, as giving a g >od sole of grass in a short time ; Poa Pratensis, as also giving a good sole, but slower; Crested D gstail, as a good bottom grass and very prominent ; Chewing’s Fe-'cue I sow sparingly, hot am not much in love with it ; Meadow Fescue, though mt a fine grass, I sow a little of, but it does not show up so much.

11 And 1 igtly I come to what 1 con sider will be one of our main grasses in this billy oonptry, and that is Danthonia (‘be Pilosa for preference). My experience of Dantbonia is that it gives feed all through the winter, and has exceptionally good carrying capacity, ray Dantbonia paddock carrying more stock than any other. It will also be one of our chief helps in getting rid of weeds and breaking this country in. “The clovers I use are White Clover, Alsyko, and Lotus Major. “ I think it is advisable to include Italian Rye or Giant Rye in a mixture for a bush burn, as it throws a lot of feed early in the spring, and helps to keep tbe weeds out till the other grasses cover the ground. “There are other grasses which no doubt other settlers have tried, and we will be glad to hear ot their experiences."