GRASS FROM ALASKA

Manawatu Herald, Volume LII, Issue 4794, 11 August 1932, Page 3

GRASS FROM ALASKA

A FARMER’S EXPERIMENTS

Wanganui, August 10.

When Mr. Kenneth Dalrymple, of Marton, returned from a recent trip to Alaska, he brought with him many varieties of trees and shrubs, and also a number of varieties of snow-resisting winter grasses, - which, he hoped would provide suitable winter feed. He planted many varieties in bis own garden, the rest he gave to an expert in Wanganui. The recent hot- summer played havoc with the grasses, but when the cold whether came it looked as though they might thrive. The recent. very heavy frosts, however, have injured the grasses as much as the heat, and it is .extremely doubtful whether they will survive. Mr. Dalrymple states that an expert in the Chicago Agricultural Department told him it would take fully! three years for the plants and grasses to become acclimatised. All the plants have put forth leaves and turned deciduous three times during the recent summer. These conditions have prevailed both in Wanganui arid Marton. If the grasses become acclimatised they may prove a great asset to New Zealand in providing winter pasture on the high lands.