GREAT NATIONAL ASSET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20562, 13 May 1930, Page 10

GREAT NATIONAL ASSET.

DOMINION'S GRASS LANDS.

INCREASE IN PRODUCTION.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ADVICE.

The importance of grass lands to New Zealand • was stressed by the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe, in an address to members of the Auckland Rotary Club at the weekly luncheon yesterday. "Figuratively speaking, 'New Zealand does not and cannot afford to let tho grass grow under its feet, but actually Now Zealand cannot afford not to let it grow," said His Excellency.

His Excellency quoted tho words of a prominent Rotarian who said that men were not to bo judged by what they got out of llio world, but what they put into it. This remark, ho said, could quite easily apply to the land. He understood that 42 professions and occupations were represented in tho club membership, but there was not one member representing farming. "New Zealand lives on grass," His Excellency said. "Tho greater part of tho output of the Dominion depends on it. It has been said that 'without vision a nation perisheth.' In tho case of Now Zealand, it would bo without vision—and grass. Indeed, one has to bo exorcised in relation to the other if tho life and prosperity of tho country are to bo permanently assured."

Value Lost In Growth, As an economic proposition, tlio growth of grass had to bo kept in check, either by tho teeth of animals or tlio mowing machine, 31 is Excellency said. Modern science had shown that in tho past grass had been allowed to grow too long. By allowing it to grow, two-thirds of its value was lost. Grass contained its maximum amount of nutriment when it was no more than 4in. high. Then its meat and milk-making matter was equivalent to that of cattlecako and other concentrates. With recognition of this fact, tho manufacture of surplus grass into cakes for winter feed might bo a future development. Prices for farm products to-day wore subnormal, hut their ordinary value in New Zealand was £55,000,000 a year. With moro scientific grass land management this figuro could bo moro than doubled. The sown grass lands, as distinct from rough land, represented moro than 17.000,000 acres, and they -were capnblo of great improvement in the character and variety of herbage. Care should be taken that fertilisers were not used to grow green weeds which looked like grass to the uninitiated eye. Such a plant was sweet-scented vernal, which gavo tho characteristic scent to newmown hay. It had i/o food value, and if it were grown all it could do was to provide the stock with an appetiser, in tho same manner as somo persons—possibly misguided—took «a cocktail. Farmers and Football.

The leaf was the valuable part of all herbage, but caro should bo taken to sow permanent pasture grass. Many of tho ryegrasses used in New Zealand were not perennials, but rather thoso of the Italian variety. It was very important that the herbage should bo worth fertilising and that nitrogenous manures, which were intended to promote leaf growth, should not bo wasted on stemrny plants of a non-lcafy character. .In England, less "adulteration" of pastures would probably result in four times tho present output from existing holdings.

"It must be remembered that grass is a crop which has to bo cultivated," His Excellency said. "In England, I know, some farmers have a prejudice against allowing their fields to be used for football, but really this has a most beneficial effect. The playing of football on grass paddocks helps their consolidation considerably, and many, whoso Jiclds and paddocks have been used in this direction, may have thought that, instead of charging footballers for the use of the fields, they should pay them instead." With regard to fertilisers, Lord JBloclisloo said care had to be taken to maintain the strength of the land in phosphates and lime. If these minerals wore lacking in the soil', stock quickly began to deteriorate. Animals fed on grass gave the bestIhivourad products in the world. Welsh and New Zealand mutton, Canterbury lamb, Scottish beef and New Zealand honey all came from grass lands, and all had a world-wide reputation. Only one plant could compare with grass as a food for stock, and this was lucerne. However, it could bo grown only on suitable land. It had been used extensively with excellent results in tho Argentine. Ceaselccs War on Pests. In grass land cultivation ceaseless war had to lie waged on all sorts of pests. New Zealand bad ils ragwort and blackberry, and His Excellency paid a tribute to the work being carried out at tho Cawlhron Institute to discover some method by which those weeds could be eliminated. Certain insect parasites might It" used for their destruction, but earo would have to be taken to see that the insects did not destroy the grass as well.

"I have given you a small mental food—a humble ration —of grass," Lord Uledisloe concluded. "Your carnivorous instincts are, I trust, not impaired. After due Rotary mastication and chewing of tho intellectual cud, you will, I hope, find tho process of digestion and assimilation' not inimical to a sympathetic and. interesled outlook' on New Zealand's greatest national asset- —her grass lands."

A tribute to the, value of Lord Blcdisliio's address v.-as paid by Sir George Eowlds, in exptessing iipprccintioii on behalf of -the club. "Wo all know of t.ho ureal interest His Excellency takes in agricultural matters." Sir George said. "Addresses such as this will be of the greatest importance to the people of this country, a;, they will serve to awaken an appreciation of the true value of agriculture. to the Dominion."