PASTURE PLANTS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6954, 6 July 1929, Page 4

PASTURE PLANTS

Aberystwyth Surveys Species of World

IMPORTANCE OF STRAINS In view of the increasing demand by farmers for the right types of pasture grasses and clovers, tho address given by Mr. Win. Davies, of the Aberystwyth Plant Breeding station, to the Palmerston North Philosophical Society last evening, came at an opportune time. Dr. H. H. Allen presided. Mr. Davies confined his remarks to a discussion of strain in pasture plants and what had been done to isolate the major strains. Aberystwyth was set. up less than ten years ago with the object of investigating strains of pasture plants in particular. So far as pasture plants were concerned it was only recently that investigators had come to realise the wideness of strains. In New Zealand a number of the wrong strains of grasses were undoubtedly grown. There were certain strains that could stand heavier grazing and use, than others and it was these that were wanted in New Zealand fields. Taken as a I whole the grasses of England a century I ago were better than those of the pre- , sent century as they wero virtually old pasture plants. Tho untenable position that had arisen had led to investigations being undertaken. It. was found that there were differences in grasses and clovers coming from different localities and countries. The first task undertaken by Aberystwyth station was a survey‘of all the pasture species of the world. The result was the discovery that England was using the right species, rye, the two clovers, nnd cocksfoot being the most important. Strangely enough, however, those four species were in a worse position as regards strains than the lesser species. Within any species there was a range of types, some being of more use than others as pasture plants. Some types were stalky with little leaf and others (the better types) were leafy with little stem. For a pasture plant it was leafage that was required and not stem. Correlated with leafiness was persistency. These points were illustrated with lantern slides, by the lecturer, who' pointed out that while the plants producing little leaf and a lot of stem were of little use, so also were those at the other end of the scale, namely, the types that were very persistent but produced a small leaf growth and were very shy seeders. The economical typo came in between —plants that produced probably more stem than was desired yet a good leaf growth as well. Mr. Davies also stressed the changes that occurred with continual cropping so that unless care was exercised, a pasture might revert to the unwanted types. , The work on cocksfoot and ryegrass gradually evolved the pasture-plant ideal. Each grass should have a long period of productivity; the herbage should be leafy and palatable; the plant should be persistent under, grazing and a wide range of . soil conditions. A o-ood strain of pasture pjant should also be a good seed producer, and resist diseasos. , .... Aberystwyth conducted similar experiments with rye grasses as wit cocksfoot and the same range of variation was discovered. , As regards red clovers Aberystwyth station came to the conclusion that tnin plant could he classified into four main groups and lantern pictures of the various groups were shown. With white clovers there was the same variation from low to high productivity. • . .. .. Connected with the investigations on strains there had to he investigation into seed mixture problems. The results had shown that the correct species had to bo selected but more particularly, the correct strains within those species. Secondly, the Old Country was inclined to use too high a proportion of rye and cut down the dogstart, meadow grass and white clovers. Tho trouble was that the lqst-named grasses wero often too expensive. Success or failure often depended on their UJ C 1 U * sion in the mixture so that it would be worth while to sow them. . Mr Davies considered that the work of Aberystwyth had been well worth while and the advent of strain investigations had shown that a complex mixture was wrong and the simple mixture rinhi. Tho latter, however, required a knowledge of habitat and conditions and demands that wero going to be made on the grass sward that was going to be built up. On the motion of Mr. R. Waters, of Massey College, a hearty veto of thanks was passed to Mr. Davies for his address.