POINTS IN PASTURE MAKING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 7

POINTS IN PASTURE MAKING

GRASSES SHOULD PREDOMINATE OVER CLOVERS.

Does, a pasture that is green with wild white clover represent the height of production capacity? Mr John Kirkwood, of the West of. Scotland Agricultural College, maintains that it does not One can, he says, have too much of a good thing, and one can have too much wild white clover in a pasture. The pastures with the greatest capacity to produce mild beef and mutton are those where there is a nice admixture of grasses and clovers, but with grasses preponderating over the clovers. In recent years there has been a tendency to adopt what are sometimes called simple mixtures— perennial ryeI crass, cocksfoot, timothy, red arid white clover. Meadow and tall lescue are, he claimed, worthy of moro consideration than is given them at present. For good loams and the heavier types of soil, meadow fescues could, with advantage, bo included in mixtures to stand for four or five years. Cocksfoot, on the other hand, has perhaps a popularity at present beyond its real value. Summarising his recommendations lor establishing and maintaining a sward with a good admixture of grasses and clovers in the "Journal of Scottish Department," the author stressed the importance of the following:— 1. Correct the lime requirement by applying lime before sowing the grass 2. Build up a reserve of fertility before sowing the grass seed by liberal applications of manures, particularly of slow acting phosphates, such as slag, mineral phosphate, or steamed bone flour. 3. If available, give farmyard manure to the young seed. This ensures a continuous' supply on the earlier years of slow acting nitrogen. This especially benefits the :big productive grasses. 4. Mowing is preferable to grazing the first year. 5. Keep the grasses in a pasture from running to seed, oven if the mower has to be used.