RED CLOVER RESEARCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 5

RED CLOVER RESEARCH.

THE FOUR MAIN GROUPS,

BEST TYPES FOR DOMINION.

WORLD DEMAND FOR SEED.

Important facts regarding the trus valuer, of red clovers in. New Zealand were given by Mr. E, Bnice Levy, agrostologist, to the Department of Agriculture, in a'n address delivered recently at tho Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North. " Rod clover occupies an important position in tho pastures of tho world," said Mr. Levy. "It varies in typo probably more than any other clover, and this variation must call for investigation into tho question of which variant or type best suits tho particular needs o! the® farmer. Continental, European and English stations have all devoted much time to studying tho red clovers of the world. The work has enabled red clovers to bo classified into four main groups:—(l) broad red clover, known also as early red clover, cowgrass or double-cut cowgrass; (2) late red clover, known also as late-flowering red clover or single-cut cowgrass; (3) lato late red clover, known also as extra-latc-flowering red clover, of which Montgomery and Cornish Marl are representative types and tho only ones so far identified; (4) wild red clovers, of which tliero are two sub-groups—early-flowering and late flowering. The latter largely resembles Montgomery Red im general type and usefulness." Endurance of Types. Dealing with the merits of each of these varieties, Mr. Levy said broad red clover was the least persistent of the types, and under European and English conditions was considered to be move or less an annua'l. In New Zealand, however, broad red clover on the whole lasted longer than in England, but under normal grazing conditions the stand was tremendously thinned by the end of the second year. Under light grazing, combined with" haying, which almost invariably permitted of re-seeding, stands up to seven or even 10 years were frequently met with. Late red clover in Britain gave good growth in the first year, but not so heavy as that from broad red, although in the second year tho gross yield was heavier than that from broad red under both hay and grazing conditions.- Further, it would survive to produce fair hay crops or pasture feed in tho third year. Only a small percentage of the plants, however, would survive the third winter. Individual plants of late-flowering red clover produced more shoots per plant than • broad red, and therefore made a better bottom and a denser crown. A Heavy Pasture Yielder.

Concerning late late red clovers, it. had been found in Britain that they did not start off so rapidly from seed as the two former groups, but produced heavy crops both as hav and pasture during the second year, and would continue on to the third and fourth years. They were heavier yielders as pasture plants than any of the other groups. They were denser and bore more tillers at the crown. Wild red clovers afforded a wider variation in type within the wild and within the cultivated strains, but the majority of this group, although not markedly heavy yielders, were very persistent, and for this reason were of interest to the plant breeder as forming the basis for longer lived strains than even the best of the lato late red. In New Zealand, the last three groups of red clover had not been sufficiently thoroughly tested for one to be able to speak with authority, but the indications were certainly such that if broad red persisted longer in the Dominion than at Home, so, too, would the late and late late reds give coriespondirigly longer stands of profitable grazing. What New Zealand Needs.

Speaking generally, there appj.-rod to be no doubt that of the four typos rk-;.]fc with the late and late late reels were referable to the broad red types for long rotation and truly permanent pastures. For annual pastures, for short rotation pastures, and for the special hay crop, broad red, with its quicker and bulkier early growth, would no doubt, be the best type, to use, but in New Zealand, at any rate, with top-dressing becoming more andmore general, the effort, now and in.the future would be for longer lived pastures. If only we could incorporate into those pastures a grazing strain of red clover that was reasonably persistent and not so inclined to smother in the early stages as broad red, the value of those pastures, particularly for summer grazing, should be greatly enhanced. The late reds and the late late reds seemed to offer a more reasonable chance of success in this direction than did the broad reds. " All New Zealand red clover, or cowgraSs, as it is more commonly called, belongs to the broad red group, and as a member of this group is proved by experiment at Home to he among the best of the broad reds. Yet the undeniable fact remains that all New Zealand red clover is broad red, and it was making this point to farmers at the Massey College recently, and indicating the apparent superiority of tho la'te reds and late late reds from a grazing purposes point _of view, that led me to voice tho opinion that in all probability it would pay New Zealand to replace New Zealand broad reds with a late red or late late red type," said Mr. Levy. Best Clover Country. " Apart altogether from working toward a more permanent red clover for New Zealand herself, there is little doubt that, consequent upon recent work in Britain, the future will see a demand at. Home for seed of late red and lato late red clovers considerably in excess of supplies. It is very significant to note that at tho present moment late red clover seed is being produced in Scandinavia, Poland, North Russia, C/,echo-Slovakia and Canada.

" New Zealand is probably one of the best, if nob tbe best clover-growing country of the world. Wo should be iu the i'oro-rank of world growers as regards typo and there is no doubt that in respect lo the broad reds New Zealand excels a.s to quality. The hope is that as the late red and late late red demand increases, New Zealand will bo in a position to meet it."