PERENNIAL RYEGRASS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2242, 18 February 1897, Page 6

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS.

I have read with interest your Southland j agricultural correspondent's notes iv the issue of the Wifcnesi of February 4. Among other things he 88ys that "the subject of ryegrass is one npon which all farmer* are not agreed," and I also that " most farmers value ryegcass too highly." Of course we do not expect to fiod farmers, or indeed any other body of men, of one mind, but it is reasonable to think that if most farmers value ryegrags highly there must be good grounds for their doing so. He also says : " Ryegrasß contains the elements of food. Stock fatten well upon it." This is certainly proot that farmers have good reason for valuing i ryegrass highly. The notes go on to say •. "Although it ii the popular belief that rye- j grass seed of the first year's growth produces a short-lired pasture, ib is the almost universal practice to cut the crop the first year, as the yield is heavier and the sample free r from weed seeds." This practice in some measure explains the facts regarding Mr Gardiner's paddocks. It is not the custom in North Otago to save ryegrass seed from a first year's crop. The writer also quotes from Sutton : " The popular notion that the first year's crop of perennial ryegrass seed produces only an

anuual pi&nt is a mere fiction " ; but he also adds from Sutton • " Although to ensure all the crop being the perennial variety maiden seed 'should be rejeobed for perennial culture." The two statements are somewhat paradoxical, ' for if maiden seed should be rtjscled when permanent pasture ia requited it can be no nwra notion that a firet year's crop produces only an annual plant. I can only repeat my former statement that "it is a well-known f*c!; that saving seed from a first crop of ryegrass results in producing a short-lived variety ; this again, if grown and seed raised from ifc, perpetuates ! and aggravates the evil." ' lam convinced that perennial ryegrass saved j from an old pasture is by far the most profibj able of all the grasses for the farmer who practises alternate husbandry, and for ptrmanent pastures intended to be kept for many years it should form the b*eii of the mixture. It i* certain that seed saved from an old pasture contains a greater percentage of weed seeds thsn seed saved from a first year's crop, j but with the improved seed-cleaning machines a firsc-class sample of clean seed can be got from very old pasture se»d. Many of our b&st farmers are alive to the fact tint a few pence more per bushel is a profitable outlay when sowing down either alternate or permanent pastures. — George Brownlee.