REGRASSING DENUDED LANDS

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 11

REGRASSING DENUDED LANDS

A GOVERNMENT EXPERIMENT. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, June 15. I)r Cockayne has forwarded the Minister of Agriculture an interesting report on experiments conducted in Central Otago regarding the regrassing of denuded lands, in January, 1920, 12 plots, each about a quarter of an acre in extent, enclosed by rabbit-proof fencing, were established by the department on the Dunst-an Mountains, Central Otago. The object of these experimental plots was to ascertain, in the first place, what the. effect of spelling from sheep and rabbits a large area of completely depleted lands would be, and in the second place to find out by sowing what grasses could be established by the cheap methods of surface sowing alone, and surface sowing followed by ono stroke of a rake, thus imitating, but in a less effective manner, one stroke cf a tine .harrow. The plot s extended from IGOOft to 26C0ft altitude, and were so arranged as to occupy types of all t Tie different kinds of sites the area could supply. As a preliminary, a survey was made of each plot, in order to put on record what plants were already growing on the ground. In addition three plots were added a year later, in order

to find out to what extent trampling by sheep on surface sown seed would succeed in establishing the different grasses. Sowings took place of a mixture of various grasses, et-c., in May, 1920, September, 1920, and March, 1921. The results ao far are most encouraging. Indeed, it is hardly going too far to state that lucerne, cocksfoot, yarrow, tall fescue, and chicory can be established on dark and partially dark slopes, by spring sowings, both broadcast and raked. The past season has, moreover, been exceptionally dry, so the tests have been conducted under specially severe conditions. The uppermost plot contained a good deal of moribund, tussock, and this has recovered and is growing vigorously alongside the sown lucerne, cocksfoot, yarrow, and chickory. On the plots trampled by sheep there is abundance of young lucerne and cocksfoot ready to increase in size in ibo spring. These experiments presuppose the effective eradication of the rabbit, and non-grazing of sheep for a time. They are also intended to supply a permanent record, so that their examination from time to time will give exact information as to what is the effect of total spelling, and whether by the means adopted Central Otago can be regrassed at a reasonable cost. The grasses at present being established are mostly too palatable for the purpose intended, since they would be readily eaten out, but the sowing of last Alarch is expected to result in some of the poorer grasses being established, especially Chewings fescue, which is abundantly proved to tolerate almost any amount of grazing by both rabbits and sheep. The Hon. W. Nosworthy states: lam very anxious to do all I can to ascertain the best way of overcoming the difficult problem in Central Otago, from the point of view of increasing the productivity of that part of the. dominion, and the result of tho experiments up to date must be considered highly satisfactory. As soon as the Minister can find time he will pay a visit to Central Otago to see for himself the position in regard to rabbit destruction. In view of the drift of population to the north, or rather the much slower increase in the south, it is important that every effort should be made to increase the productivity of lands that once carried large numbers, of sheep, but that apparently, in some instances, are now to some extent devoted to rabbit farming. The menace to the rest of the country from the non-de-struction of rabbits in gome parts of Otago is also a matter of concern.*