IMPROVING PASTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 16

IMPROVING PASTURES.

VALUE OF TGP-DRESSf NG. EXPERIMENT IN AUSTRALIA. In the Yass district- of New South Wales, Mr. Hugh Stewart, of Fifield, has a demonstration of the value of top-dress-ing of pastures on his property that- is of particular interest icT'lfrariers, Sydney Dally Telegraph. The difference resulting in growth on the treated area is most marked, and, as Mr. Stewart, remarked the other day, the longer the dry spell has extended ■ the more - pronounced has become the value of the treatment given. s f. - ii •

Having beeminduced to test top-dress-ing with superphosphate, Sir. Stewart decided to first" try' it out on a small home paddock close to the homestead, part of which had been an old lucerne paddock that petered out, and where, before being top-dressed, thistles and other weeds first .took hold at this time of the year, and always gave much trouble to keep down. In July last as much of this paddock as it was possible to * top-dress was treated with 1121b. of ordinary superphosphate per acre, with the result that to-day Mr.. Stewart has a dense mass of succulent herbage crowding - our the rubbish —thistle and other weeds—clovers, including subterranean here and there, with the best of trefoil and grasses brought prominently to light: while where the pasture had not been treated much of such grasses are barely discernible. Where the subterranean clover was not treated the growth is not only stunted, but fast drying off, while where treated it is exceedingly dense, as well as fresh and green, with no sign yet of seeding. Thus, not only is density of growth assured and the re-establishment of natural grasses and clovers brought about, but the growing season is,extended, as' the present dry spell, following, a very long and cold wet winter, has this year proved. Another settle?, Mr. W. T. ..Nixon, points out that where graziers were late in top-dressing, just prior to the cold, wet winter setting in, or those who did so early this spring, there may be some doubt as to the benefits. The season, howevpr, has been abnormal, and with the first spring rain all sliouid be well, and the benefits lasting. At any rate, he contends, there should be an appreciable difference for the next two or three years, even though the season should be unfavourable. ' Ail that is necessary is a shower or two to give the fertiliser a start in its work.

The eftect generally is the renovation of pastures, by bringing out prominently much grass anil herbage that has for some time been gradually dying out. All this not only means' more "succulent feed assured, but stock always in better health. And at what cost? , Mr. Nixon figures it out that, if treated, say, every three years, the cost;is not more than 2s per acre. The autumn—March and April—he regards as undoubtedly the best season for top-dressing. This assures an early spring growth, \with good winter picking, which is most valuable for ilambing ewes.