WINTER FEEDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1919, Page 7

WINTER FEEDING

THE LESSON^OF*THE DROUGHT.

MR. A. MAOPHERSON’S 1 RECOMMENDATION.

The kceon of the present -drought, according to Mr A, Macpberson, Fields instructor to the Agricultural Department, i® winter feeding of stock. Mr Macphers-on is engaged actively on work which has for its object the improvement of pastures in New Zealand, and he speaks with authority on the matter.

“The trouble with the farmer’s generally,” he said-to an interviewer 'in Christchurch recently, “is that they are not making provision for winter feeding for the sheep. They have had very favourable winters generally in the past, and .although rape and turnips have been a. failure for some years they have made no attempt to use such fodders as are needed now. Another thing that the farmers will have to look to is the treatment of ordinary pastures. They are not treating them properly now. _ “The farmers’ treatment of pastures! is not in accordance' with the established practice of older countries,” Mr. .Macpherson added. “In New Zealand as soon as the grass gets to a height of four or five inches stock are put on- to it, and when it recovers and get® a further growth of about the same length stock are again put on to it. Now the leaves are the lungs and stomach of the plant, and it is impossible for the root to develop if the leaf portion is eaten off in The manner prevalent among most farmers in New Zealand:. The result is a ■poor'root growth', fc-nd when dry seasons set in the plant is unable to stand the want of moisture. It is not deeprooted. “It is a Tide accepted by practical farmers in older countries that grass should not be grazed in thi® way, but that it should be allowed, to develop until it comes to the flowering stage, and then a -crop of hay taken. Afterwards it is ready lor a pasture, cause the root is properly developed. Mr. J. O. M‘Kay, overseer of the experimental farm at Ashburton,. who was in company with Mr Macpherson at the time of the interview, was appealed to regarding the condition of a pasture he had prepared. He said that he did not graze it heavily at first, but just g aVe it a light feeding land then took the sheep : off . Fart of it went to hay in the first year. Now it was one of the best pastures in South Canterbury for that class of Land, and was an object lesson for farmer*.. In sowing grass, Mr 'Macpberson resumed, tlie majority of farmers neverhad a firm enough -seed bed for the seed to germinate in. It was necessary for successful grass growing that the bed should be firmed by rolling before sowing, if the soil required; it. Speaking of the condition, of the country at present, Mb .Macpberson, said that in North Canterbury the effects of the drought were very severe, but m the ■ south. after leaving Rakaia, the posii lion started |to improve. Oamaru had had rains at sight and fine clear days ; and when he was there a fortnight ago there was an abundance of grass. On being pressed to recommend _ forage plants to meet the present situation, Mr Macpberson! said' he was not at the moment out to say anything in favour of one plan as against another. The drought would have done good if it taught the fanners the lesson of providing winter feed. Mr Macpberson pointed to a crop of silver beet on a little experimental plot, and remarked that tins plant, which he had introduced to New Zealand for stock, was now highly valued an the United States, and he was filling one older for the Wool Growers’ Association in Utah, and another for the •Japanese Government, which had heard of the . value of the plant as the result of the experiments in New -Zealand and later ■in America. He pointed to a single plant of lucerne growing in the same ground, and remarked that 835 stems had been taken from the one plant at The last cutting. He added that he had visited many country centres in North Canterbury during the shows, and the only green patches visible were lucerne.