GRASS SEED MIXTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3475, 19 October 1920, Page 8

GRASS SEED MIXTURES.

The high cost of grass and clover seeds at the present time renders it necessary for farmers to exercise the utmost care in the selection of the seeds comprising the seed mixture. No farmer, indeed, should be content with, say, ryegrass and clovers — and many are unfortunately—unless he contemplates a temporary grass paddock, which, in the course of a year or two, it is intended to plough up again and continue cropping under a definite rotation. Even in cases of a short rotation something besides ryegrass and clovers may be attempted, a few pounds per acre of Italian ryegrass for instance, in addition to white and red clovers. If it is intended to leave a paddock down in grasses for over two years consideration should be given to such grasses (in addition to those mentioned above) as cocksfoot, Timothy, crested dogstail, wild white clover, etc. When*selecting seed it is well to know something about the grasses which arb known to "do" well in the district, as many well-known grasses might be mentioned which may not, however, function in the particular locality under consideration. Then, it must not be forgotten that in laying down land to grass it is absolutely essential, in order to ensure success, that the land be clean, and that the seeds be pure. It is not much use securing one of these conditions without the other, : for it would be futile to sow pure seeds upon a foul seed-bed as to prepare a proper seed-bed for the reception of unclean seed. The formation of a sward results, after all, from the combined influence of the species sown and those that spring up naturally. A temporary grass pasture will necessarily depend entirely on the plants sown, but a permanent pasture after "a few years have run will depend, more or less, on the plants that come in naturally. So that local knowledge of the particular permanent grasses that are known to "do" well is invaluable in the making up of a seeds mixture. The selection of a seeds mixture would seem to involve not only the choice of seeds that may be expected to succeed under the various conditions of soil and climate, but the question of the variety of the selected plants and the country or district of origin of the seed, and the relation of the sown species to those indigenous herbage plants that will alwavs colonise on artificial grass land to a gi'eater or less extent. Taking a wide view of the matter we may advance the opinion that in general one finds that in many instances a pasture largely composed of perennial ryegrass, in the the course of a very few years, disappears in a large, measure, and is displaced by Yorkshire fog and' soft Brome grass, and later on by bent, sweet vernal grass and possibly five leaved fescues and twitches. It would seem but a wise endeavour to supply in a seed mixture intended for pasture for several years, grass which will make growth when the ryegrass is failing. After, say, the first two years we can, as a 'rule, on land in fair condition, depend upon cocksfoot and Timothy for say the second, third, and fourth years, and wild -vvhite clover in conjunction with crested dogtail. The object of including the last named grass and clover is to hasten the formation of v a bottom sward, suppress weeds, and ensure a good and leguminous herbage to plough down. The following mixture has been largely used in central Wales, and mav be taken as an example of what may be called a nucleus mixture for land intended to be down in grass for four years and over. It can easily be modified to meet local requirements : Per acre. Perennial Ryegrass 7 to 14 lb Cocksfoot 6 to 12 lb Timothy 8 to slb Orostecl Dogstail 1* to 2lb ln>£e flowering Red Clover .. .. 8 to 4lb AlßiTre Clover 1 lb Wild "White Clover * to 1 lb Total minimum seeding per acre, say, about 281 b to 301 b, and maximum, even if other species are added, about 351 b. In localities where perennial ryegrass is not fancied after two years up to 141 b of cocksfoot and 61b of Timothy might be used, and the ryegrass excluded altogether with advantage. The following mixture is

cited as a nucleus mixture used on average years. Per acre. Perennial Ryegrass 13 lb Italian Ryegrass ■ .... 5 lb Cocksfoot 6 lb Timothy " 3 lb Late flowering Red Clover .. .. lb Broad Red Clover 2 lb Wild White Clover i lb Commercial White Clover .. •. ilb Alsike Clover 1 lb Total seeding per acre about 321 b.