FEBRUARY PASTURES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 14

FEBRUARY PASTURES.

PREPARING FOR AUTUMN SOWING. In February mowing of pasture may be advisable because of one or more of sevei al sets of circumstances (writes R. P. Connell in the Journal of Agriculture. Thus it may be necessary to remove the flower-heads of perennial weeds; or it may be advisable to “ top ” portions of pasture growth which are rank and producing seed, in order to induce the development of fresh growth from the base of the topped plants. Sometimes pastures are overrun with large numbers of shadecreating weeds such as spear-thistles, docks, fat-hen, and redshank or willowweed. If these weeds receive no attention they are likely to weaken greatly the pasture plants in their immediate vicinity, and possibly create vacant patches on which inferior plants may become established. If, however, they are mown they cease to create the shade which injures the valuable pasture plants. Over a wide range of conditions some at least of the grassland on farms may w r ell have phosphates applied in February or thereabouts. When the soil-moisture is sufficient the application of phosphates at this period stimulates extra valuable fresh growth, and the phosphates will continue their stimulation of the grass during the following spring, so that a grass-growth more even over the whole year results.

The preparation of the ground for autumn sowing of pastures is an important summer task. A good seed-bed for this purpose is fine and firm. These characters, and particularly firmness or consolidation, cannot be secured readily unless the work is commenced in good time. Clovers, which are vital to successful permanent pasture, call particularly for consolidation. The value of a firm seedbed is well exemplified in the fact that the best pastures are often to be found

round the headlands, w here there has been the greatest amount of consolidation by the passage of horses and implements. There is being enacted a silent revolution in the matter of determining the ingredients of pasture-seed mixtures. For generations the natural plant-food supply of the soil has been a prime consideration when deciding upon a grass-seed mixture. Now’ that the farmer has available the wide field of pasture top-dress-ing as a handmaid, the ingredients of a seed mixture may be determined not so much by the initial fertility of the soil as by the rainfall it receives. In brief, it is often proving more profitable to bring the fertility of thp soil up to the requirements of a high-class sved mixture by suitable top-dressing, rather than to frame a seed mixture with requirements down to the natural unimproved fertility of the soil. In conformity with this policy, land the fertility of which is better fitted to the requirements of cocksfoot than those of perennial rye-grass may nevertheless, on sound lines, be given a mixture suited to develop a rye and white clover dominant pasture, here being an underlying intention to bring the fertility up to ryegrass requirements by suitable top-dressing. Because of this change in outlook seed mixtures wdiich were considered the best a few years ago for certain conditions may now be so considered. Farmers who desire to keep abreast of recent developments in this connection may find it worth while to seek the advice available from local officers of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture.

In districts subject to grass-grub depredations it is advisable to avoid the sowing-down of pastures after a cereal or previous crop of grass; the less plantcovering land carried during the November to January period the more likely is it to be free from the grub.