Farming Notes

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1693, 6 January 1936, Page 6

Farming Notes

PASTURE MANAGEMENT

TRIALS WITH GRASSES Experiments Near Putaruru Details of the experiments in the Putaruru district by the Department of Agriculture on pasture management are contained in the following article written expressly for this paper by Mr. C. S. Dalgleish, fields instructor to the deoartment, Rotorua:— The objects of demonstration trials on ryegrass and clover types are: 1. To bring under the notice of farmers the differences that exist between true perennial and false perennial ryegrass and to show degrees of variation in type that exist among commercial lots all compared with a standard true perennial type. Where possible these are compared with good and bad local strains produced in the district.

2. To emphaisie the need of buying within the guarantee given under certification. 3. To demonstrate the fact that once grown mother seed is perfectly satisfactory for permanent purposes.

4. To demonstrate superiority of Hawke’s Bay true perennial against best English and ordinary English imported. 5. To try out Montgomery red clover against ordinary New Zealand broad red. 6. To demonstrate uselessness of imported white clover and to show differences that exist in New Zeagrown white clover with special reference to New Zealand wild white, Whenuakura (No. 1) and Kentish wild white. Summary of Work In the first year or so of these demonstration trials, invariably no great differences’ are to be noted, but as time' goes on the inferiority of; types which are. not up to standard ?o{ true > perennial; ryegrass' and good standard of white clover" manifests itself clearly by deterioration of the species sown and the superseding of such'by a complete cover Of weed growth, which costs as-much to topdress as the standard permanent types and gives scant return for the. expenditure. ;

. On Smyth Bros, farm at Ngongotaha a grass and clover demonstration trial was put down in the spring of 1932. For tho first year no great differences was noticeable, but since then the progress of changes in the various plots has been

very interesting, every whit as interesting as watching the improved development of a well-bred animal over an ordinary cross-bred. Plots of inferior strains of ryegrass show only odd plants of rye, with a ground cover of weeds and a little clover, the true perennial types showing fairly good standards of pastures.

Clover Strain Trials

In the clover strain trials the usefulness —and one may truly say that this usefulness is a necessity—of a good strain of white clover assists in a high standard of ryegrass development. In these trials the one strain of perennial ryegrass is used, and the differences at the present time between the healthy development of ryegrass with the good strain of white clover is very outstanding, compared with the same - ryegrass sown with New Zealand ordinary white clover, and imported Dutch white clover, one could truly liken the differences as the difference between a topdressing of 3 to 4 cwt of a super basic slag mixture as against a scanty manurial dressing.

At the present date, mother seed ( white clover is slightly ahead of > Whenuakura No. 1 white, with Kentish wild white a good third. These plots carry good vigorous clover development of a dark green colour, with good establishment of ryegrass also of a good colour and vigour. In the New Zealand Dutch white clover and imported Dutch white clover plots, the clover is patchy and lacking in vigour, while ryegrass dominates over the clover growth and is of a dry, harsh, light green colour. Ordinary New Zealand white, although ahead of New Zealand Dutch and imported Dutch, is very much behind the other three mentioned. In ,1933 and 1934 Kentish .wild white outstanding in good colour and vigour but • ik- not so good this sea* son, while mother seed white has steadily improved.

Experiments in 1934-35

i. Species and strain demonstration trial of grasses and clovers, laid down on the farm of Mr. J. A.

Ranger, Puketurua. This experiment comprises 34 plots of grasses and clovers, dealing with the different species and strains. Plots 1 to S. Ryegrass strains. (1) Low U.V. test Canterbury; (2) certified mother seed; (3) bad false perennial; (4) certified permanent pasture; (5) low U.V. test Southland; (6) imported commercial; (7) British indigenous; (8) selection. Each ryegrass strain sown at 401 b per acre, plus 31b certified mother seed white clover.

Plots 9 to 30. —Sown with a has: seed mixture throughout with one variant per plot. Base seed mixture: Italian ryegrass, 51b per acre; certified m/s perennial ryegrass, 251 b; certified cocksfoot (Akaroa), 101 b; certified m/s white clover, 3lo; Montgomery red clover, 31b; total per acre, 471 b. These constitute a standard trial for all localities.

Piot 33 includes paspalum; plot 34a 10lb cf meadow fescue added to base; plot 34b 251 b of meadow fescue substituted for perennial rye.

Plots 9 to 14 are cocksfoot strains: (9) Akaroa as in base; (10) Danish; (11) British hay or grazing; (12) plains; (13) British indigenous; (14) selection; (15) no cocksfoot. Plots 16 to 21 are white clover strains: (16) certified .m/s (mother seed) white; (17): N.Z. ordinary; (18) certified p.p. (permanent pasture); (19) imported Dutch; (20) Kentish wild white; (21) selection; (22) no white clover or red clover.

Plots 23 to 25 red clovers: (23) certified Montgomery red clover as in base; (24) Monegomery red selection; (25) broad red; (26) no red clover; (27) timothy, 41b; (28) crested dogtail, 31b; (29) no Italian ryegrass; (30). Italian ryegrass, 101 b; (33) paspalum, 61b; (40) strawberry clover. Seeds 27 to 40 added to base mixture.

34a: Meadow fescue added to base; (34b) 251 b meadow fescue substituted in base for perennial ryegrass. Results Shown Perennial ryegrass has made a good establishment, although not of a good colour, being rather light dry green. This invariably happens when white clover establishment is slow. As the white clover improves, the ryegrass follows suit. Plot 3 has bad false perennial ryegrass conspicuous by greyish colour and general lack of vigour with' much weed growth. Plot 22 has no white or red clover, fair good rye establishment, which is not thriving. The absence of white clover allows weeds to make headway, and this plot is filling up with -- Suckling clover,, which is .poor in.-quality. Plot 34b provides . good information ftt the value of a quick pasture establishment, the .meadow fescue (substituted for perennial ryegrass) has made podr establishment,; * and allowed weeds to make headway. Since the early spring, clovers have made good progress on this plot and now supersede weed growth. It will probably be another year before any differences will be noted in the cocksfoot trials. Manurial Trial In addition to the grass and clover trials a manurial trial and a clover inoculation trial has bean laid down. The manurial comprises, plots 20 links by 25 links, as follows:—(1) Ammoniated super; (2) Seychelles; (3) basic slag; (4) super; (5) basic slag and potash; (6) super and potash; (7) potash. This trial is in duplicate, and half of each series received an application of one ton of carbonate of lime per acre, and will receive annual topdressings of 5 cwt of lime per acre. Basic slag and potash and super plus potash carry a better colour with improved clover vigour. Clover Inocluation Trials. One square chain, one-half of area receiving a dressing of lime at one half-ton per acre, thus giving plots as: (1) Seed without inoculation; (2) seed with inocluation; (3) seed plus inocluation plus lime; (4) seed plus lime without inocluation. j Test at Lichfield

lii October of this year a similar tnanurial and clover inocluation trial was laid down on Mr. K. S. Cox’:, Crossing Estate, Lichfield, and also a demonstration trial—grass and clover types. This latter differs somewhat from the trial put down on Mr. J. A. Ranger’s farm, as particulars will show.

Plots 1 to 30. —The testing of pedigree, certified and commercial strains of perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, cocksfoot, white and red clover. Plots 1 to 10 —White clover strains at 51b per acre plus certified Italian ryegrass at 201 b per acre plus permanent pasture ryegrass at 101 b per acre. Species of white clover are: (1) Imported Morso; (2) pedigree; (3) Kentish; (4) certified mother seed; (5) imported Polish; (6) certified permanent pasture; (7) N.Z.

Dutch; (8) ordinary N.Z. English, (9) selection; (10) Ladino.

Plots 11 to 15.—Red clover clr-inj at 101 b per acre plus certified itai.c.:: ryegrass at 20lb per acre pi Us manent pasture ryegrass at 101 b per acre..

Jted Clover. flowering; (12) pedigree Montgomery; (13) broad (N.Z;; commercial); (14) certified Montgomery; (15) o. dinary late flowering Suffolk.

Plots 16 to 19.— CocKS-foot str- i.at 151 b per acre plus certified itaLar: ryegrass at 201 b per acre plus m.s. white clover at 31b per acre. Cocksfoot.—(l6) British indigenous;. (17) certified, Akaroa; (18) certified plains; (19) Danish. Plots 20 to ryegrass strains at 40lb per acre. Perennial ryegrass: (20) Scottish; (21) perennial; (22) certified mother seed; (23) failse perennial; (24) certified permanent pasture; (25) low li.V. certified commercial:; (26) bad false. \ „ -■ Plots 27 to 30.—Italian ryegrass strains at 401 b per acre plus m.s. White clover at 31b per acre. Italian ryegrass: (27) Selected; (2S) pool commercial; (29) certified; (30) Western Wolths. Influence of Clover Plots 31 and 32.—Deciding the influence of' good and poor strains of white clover on the behaviour of certified ryegrass: (31) Certified mother seed perennial ryegrass 401 b; white clover, certified mother seed, 31b. (32) Certified mother seed perennial ryegrass 401 b; white clover, imported Dutch, 31b. Plots 33 and 34. —Deciding the influence of perennial ryegrass on the establishment of cocksfoot, white clover and red clover. (33) Cocksfoot, certified, 151 b per acre; Montgomery red clover, certified, 41b; white clover, certified mother seed, 31b; Italian ryegrass, certified, 101 b.

(34): Cocksfoot, certified, 151 b per acre; Montgamery red clover, certi-

fied, 41b; white clover, certified

mother seed, 31b; perennial ryegrass, certified mother seed, 251 b. Plots 35 to 38.—The comparison ot standard mixtures composed of (a) pedigree strains, (2) certified strains, (c) commercial strains. (35): Pedigree strains: Italian ryegrass, select-, ed, 51b per acre; perennial ryegrass, certified mother seed, 251 b; cocksfoot, pedigree, 101 b; white clover, pedigree, 31b; red clover, pedigree Montgomery, 31b. (36) Good commercial strains: Italian ryegrass, poor typo of Italian, 51b per acre; perennial .ryegrass, good false perennial, 251 b; Scpcksfoot, ; plain, commercial, 101 b; white clover,; ordinary- N.Z., 31b; red clover,' N.Z;! ibroa'd, 31b.; • (37) Certified strains: Italian ryegrass, certified,: 51b per acre; perennial ryegrass, certified m.s., 251 b;: cocksfoot, certified) m.s., 101 b; white clover, certified m.s., 31b; red clover, certified Montgomery, 31b. (38) Bad commercial strains: Italian ryegrass, poor' type, 51b per acre; Italian perennial ryegrass, bad false, 251 b; cocksfoot, Danish, 101 b; white clover, Dutch, 3lb; red clover, broad, 31b.