PASTURE GRASSES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18192, 13 September 1933, Page 11

PASTURE GRASSES

DOMINION’S MAIN CROP Pasture research work and its economic significance to the Dominion was commented upon by the acting-Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in an interview at Wellington. Pastures, Mr. Ransom said, constituted the largest crop in New Zealand. In realisation ot this, considerable attention had been given to them during the last few years. This attention had brought ’commendable economic results, as evidenced by the selection of superior strains from among the principal pasture grasses grown in the Dominion.

“Most people are aware of the increased value that can be imported to ryegrass pastures by thg utilhsatibn of true perennial Seed such as has been groVm in Hawke’s Bay and Caiiterbuiy,” said Mr. Ransom. “Where perennial char&cteristi'cs are required in i pasture, it is now generally, iyell undertood that farmers will get easily the best results from the utilisation of certified seed, the grass from which possesses those desifctbie characteristics of fodder- production for which they have been specially studied, and selected at the plant research station. This work .is being continued, and most of the Dominion’s pasture grasses and clovers are now being submitted to very close examination, selection, and breeding, with a view; to isolating strains of high feed value. “The success which has attended the work iu the various pasture grasses has indicated tluit the search for highyielding strains possesses very wide economic significance in increasing the carrying capacity of our farms, and the degree of utilisation to which each aero can be put..” , ~