PAMPAS GRASS

Northern Advocate, 19 July 1935, Page 4

PAMPAS GRASS

USE AS FODDER. SEEDLINGS WANTED. APPLICATION TO HARBOUR BOARD. Mr B. C. Aston,.chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, and a number of farmers throughout the Dominion, have written to the Whangarei Harbour Board in regard to the forwarding for fodder of pampas grass seedlings, which are growing on the Kaituna reclamation. The letters were considered at today’s board meeting. The board did not feel disposed to handle the seedlings itself, but passed a resolution to the effect that it is quite agreeable to a seeds merchant handling the seedlings, provided the unemployed are used in the collecting and parcelling processes. One farmer, enclosing a clipping from a Wellington newspaper, sought advice as to whether pampas grass for fodder. The clipping made reference to Mr Aston’s statement regarding the possibilities of pampas as a fodder lor cattle and sheep. That statement was challenged some days later by Mr J. M. Smith, fields supervisor for the department in Otago and Southland. The clipping also dealt with the views of a visitor from Uruguay, who stated that pampas grass was only good for burning in his country.

The board did not consider it was in a position to give any adi/icc on the merits of the grass, which Mr W. M. Fraser, the engineer, said was a native of New Zealand. One or (wo members, however, doubted whether the grass was much use, and Mr K. M. Stevens thought it would be a disastrous business for any farmer who got it.