PASTURES OF DOMINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20257, 17 May 1929, Page 5

PASTURES OF DOMINION.

VERY FEW TRUE RYES.

WHAT EXPERIMENTS REVEAL.

COCKSFOOT PUT TO TESTS. Experiments likely to have a most important effect upon the grass seed industry in New Zealand and upon production as viewed from the standpoint of pasture, have been undertaken at the plant research station, Palmerston North, by Mr. E. Bruce Levy, agrostologist to the Department of Agriculture. Addressing a body of farmers at Palmerston North recently, Mr. Levy said that from the research work so far done it appeared likely that ew Zealand would be well advised to introduce a new variety of red clover —the late red or late late red—to replace the broad red varieties so common throughout the country. It had been found, too, that Hawke's Bay was the only district in New Zealand which could be relied upon for rye grass of the true perennial type. Many so-called perennial ryes from Southland and Canterbury were not much better than Italian ryes. Testing Purity of Eyes.

Detailing his experiments, Mr. Levy said that toward the middle of last November 104 plots of rye were sown down in seed harvested from all parts of New Zealand, together with some of the best strains from several parts of the world. All the plots were given the same conditions of sowing and manuring, and when the grass reached a stage when results in the various plots could be studied it was found that four main divisions could be made. There were true perennial ryes; perennial ryes with a small amount of Italian strain showing in them; Italian ryes with a perennial strain, and, lastly, pure Italian ryes. All the seed, however, had been labelled perennial, and was sold to the farmers as such. It appeared obvious that in past years hybridisation had been taking place. Giving further details of the plots, he stated that of 22 lots of Hawke's Bay harvested seed 15 had proved to be of the true perennial type. The other seven had a certain amount of Italian " blood," including one sample harvested from a pasture 33 years old. Twelve samples of rye harvested in the Sandon district, near Palmerston North, were sown, but only two of the plots produced true perennials. While these were quite as good as the Hawke's Bay varieties, it was obvious that the general position of Sandon ryes was unsatisfactory from perennial point of view. Few True Perennials. Of 30 lots of Canterbury ryes, only three had proved true perennials, while no sample of South Canterbury seed had been true to type. Not one of over 40 samples of Southland ryes had shown true perennial characteristics. Of three Marlborough .samples, only one had come true. Summarised, the experiment revealed that only 28 of the 104 plots had grown true perennial rye. Mr. Levy emphasised the point that once the true type of seed was secured it could be grown anywhere in New Zealand, and be guaranteed to develop true to type, so that in time the country would be able to correct the present fault in its pastures. The value of this was evident when the plots at the experimental area were viewed. The majority of the Hawke s Bay plots carried a thick sward of good autumn growth in marked contrast to the sparse and short pasture of most of the others. , Another area had been sown with_ 127 strains of cocksfoot from all parts of New Zealand and some from overseas. The results pointed to Akaroa cocksfoot being superior to Danish. The latter had a verv open crown with few tillers, whereas the Akaroa variety had a greater number of tillers and was more likely to be persistent under the close grazing conditions now recommended by the Agricultural Department as the best method of pasture management. There was n tendency in the Danish variety to run "early to seed and the leaves were coarser. Mr. Levy explained that the plots were to be kept mown with a lawnmower, 1c test the longevitv of each strain nnc!f>" close-grazing conditions. Brown Top for Export.

Another experiment in. hand at the plant research station concerned the grass known as brown top, and was designed to ascertain whether New Zealand varieties had a strain of red top. There was a demand in the United States for highgrade brown top for lawns and golf courses, and a profitable export trade in the seed might be possible if it could be proved that New Zealand seed was up to the requisite standard. Speaking on grass land management generally, Mr. Levy advised farmers to to bring their land to a standard of fertility which would permit the successful growing of the ideal pasture of rye and white clover. The aim _ should be not merely to sow grasses suited to the soil conditions existing, but to build up the fertility of the soil so that it would grow the best species. There were several reasons why rve and white clover were outstanding as a pasture combination. They made the most highly nutritive food available, _ and where their growth maintained itself strongly thev served as an indication of correct grazing, good drainage and soil fertility. Creeping-bent indicated a waterlogged condition of the soil, which would ho too wet for rye and white clover. Meadow foxtail liked damp conditions, but should be sown only when it was impossible to secure the conditions necessarv for rye and clover. A farmer shoul not be satisfied with meadow foxtai rather than drain his land. If cres |® c j dogstail became dominant it showed tne conditions were not right and that the farmer would have to set to work with manure and harrows. There was a time when cocksfoot was " king," but that grass had long been dethroned with the change f r °m™ughto finer pasture management. Lockstoot however, took a good second place to rve Dogstail was one of the best bottom grasses, especially for the sheep farmer. There was no fear of dogstail taking charge after n few years, under good management.