GRASS FARMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20706, 2 May 1929, Page 13

GRASS FARMING.

A NEW ZEALAND PRECEDENT. ‘ A GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND.” (From Oub Own Correspondent.) LONDON, March 10. ■ A writer in the Daily Telegraph says that in New Zealand no one speaks of going down” to grass. “ There,” he says, “ the change is not regarded as synonymous with a decadent agriculture, and journalists do not seize on the growing acreage of permanent grass as a subject for pessimistic articles, “For in New Zealand, I am told, grass, land is one of the mainstays of farming, and no topic excites more interest in’fanning circles than possible improvements in grass husbandry. There is no ‘tumbling down to grass —another unfortunate expression—for grass is grown and' treated as a crop. The natural herbage of the district is studied, and the species to be sown selected; the first year’s crop is carefully nursed; .after-cultivation is sedulously practised, and, , above all, suitable fertilisers, generally phosphates, are applied. “The main end-products arc, naturally enough,' the mutton and butter, which so' often grace British tables. How comes it that the New Zealand farmer makes a profit’ aftei’ sending his. produce 6000 miles to market? I asked this question of a farming expert who has just returned from a three-months’ tour of the. islands occupied by an .intensive study of farming conditions there. WHY NEW ZEALAND SUCCEEDS. “ Obviously, the reason is not to be found-in cheaper labour, for. Hodge out there has a minimum wage of 60s a week; nor ill lower rents, for land in the famous Canterbury Plains is just as dear as here; nor in higher fertility, for the average yield of wheat is the same—--30 bushels. My friend had more than one explanation to offer. ‘To begin with, the New Zealand farmer has a great asset in the ever-growing demand for his products from overseas. This demand exists because every housewife in this country appreciates the merits of Canterbury lamb and New Zealand butter, not so much on account of their quality, for the best British mutton and butter are unapproachable, but because she has learnt from experience that their quality reaches the same standard of excellence at all seasons, a regular standard which, it must be regretfully admitted, hiuue produce does not attain.* "Further, the big mergers who have their multiple shops all over the kingdom, prefer uniformity to superfine quality, And why? Because the conditions under which they conduct their business demand the placing of orders forward, and the distribution of stocks without minute examination of each parcel. There can be no business of this description unless future supplies of a guaranteed grade arc assured. New Zealand produce satisfies this-condition, and the Government Mere sees to it. THE MENTAL TONE. “Next, as has been said, good farming and . farming, aided by science prevail. Lastly, the mental tone is. good. My friend, going from a country where the mental attitude is one of gloom, was deeply impressed by the confidence in the future everywhere felt in the Antipodes Now, the home fanner, is almost nauseated by what he has been told about Scandinavian farming, and if the example of Now Zealand is being held up it is because the social and economic conditions of the islands are much the same as here. The people are of the same ‘happy breed,’ farm in the same way, and.demand a standard of living very different from that which satisfies our Continental neighbours. ‘■'The truth is that we take the wrong attitude to grass land farming. We are too obsessed by-the idea that the prosperity of farming is hound up with good prices for barley and wheat. Grass is too often regarded as a natural wild product, which does not call for any special care or skill, whereas, as is now being slowly recognised, the maintenance of good pasture calls for as much attention and knowledge as any operation in husbandry,” The writer proceeds to point out that the neglect of grass husbandry is one of the answers to the question. “What is wrong with English farming? ”