PAMPAS GRASS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22144, 25 June 1935, Page 12

PAMPAS GRASS

USE IN DOMINION POSSIBILITIES AS FODDER VALUE IN DAIRYING [by TELEGRAPH —OWN* correspondent] "WELLINGTON, Monday Giant grass, scorned for many years by farmers and townsmen, but used in future as fodder, may revolutionise the dairying and sheep farming industries in New Zealand. Giant grass is commonly known as pampas grass, which is a native of South America, but has been naturalised in New Zealand. It is succulent and is sought by cattle as food in preference, under certain circumstances, to pasture grass. Cattle allowed to feed upon pampas grass, it is stated, produce milk with butter-fat increased by 0.3 per cent, or more, in comparison with their normal yield. Upon their return to grass pasture the butter-fat content falls. Pampas grass returns 50 tons of succulent fodder to the acre and may be cut back and burned out with a subsequent return of tender shoots. It is more nourishing than turnips and may be grown upon swampy ground and does not suffer from frosts. "It is one of the biggest single discoveries that has been made in New Zealand," said Mr. B. C. Aston, chief agricultural chemist of the Department of Agriculture, to-day. "It opens up wonderful possibilities. The cost of establishing 1000 pampas plants—enough to cover an acre of ground and produce 50 tons of succulent fodder — is 30s. When pampas areas hare grown to a good height and have been eaten off until only the dry stalks and leaves j are left, fire is put through the dry | stuff and the area is reduced to a mass of ashes. In several days fresh green i shoots appear aiid the whole procedure is in motion again." i