FARM and STATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19892, 21 March 1939, Page 15

FARM and STATION

BY “THE GLEANER”

CLOVER ON HILLS

WHITE OR SUBTERRANEAN HIGH COUNTRY TRIALS OTOKO AND MATAWAI FERTILISER R ESPONSE While subterranean clover has proved to be very valuable in parts of the Gisborne district, recent trials on some of the high country suggest that in areas of high rainfall where fertilisers bring away a strong white clover growth, it would appear wiser to introduce better types of white clover than to endeavour to establish subterranean, clover. This comment is made by Mr. E. M. Bates, B.Sc, instructor in agriculture, Gisborne, in 'a very interesting review of trials carried out at Otoko and Matawai. A number of subterranean clover trials have been laid down on exisCing pastures in various parts of the Gisborne and Coasit districts from Matawai to Wihakaangian.gi. Each area consists of four plots: (1) Mount Barker subterranean ■ clover with super; (2) Mount Barker subterranean clover without super; (3) Tallarook subterranean clover with super; (4) super without subterranean .clover. "In the areas of higher rainfall and at higher elevations, as at Matawai and Otoko, top-dressing with superphosphate brings a strong response in the white clover content, while subterranean clover is relatively hard to establish,". Mr. Bates stated, "and while white clover comes in strongly in the sole it would appear worth while introducing better types of white clover capable of higher production by broadcasting certified white clover seed rather than using subterranean clover." The following reports were made by Mr. Bates on Mr. H. Riddick's property ait Matawai, and Mr. V. Taylor's farm at Otoko. Mr. Bates' visit to these plots was made on March 8. Mr. Riddick's Farm The paddock had been moderately grazed and contained a small amount of roughage, mostly fog and some cocksfoot. The no-manure plot was particularly rough in comparison with supered plots. Super response was very marked in. bringing in white clover strongly. There is just a small trace of subterranean clover present. It appears that stimulation of a good type of white clover with top-dressing on this country rather tfhan subterranean clover is indicated. The elevation is about 1600 ft. The pasture composition is dominant danthonia rilosa and. chewings fescue, a good sprinkling of .fog and cocksfoot, with a trace of po.i trivialias, and under top-dressing much white clover forming a good sole. On the; no-manure plot, wbrich is relatively un'grazed and rank, there is more fog and cocksfoot and les.v white clover, with taller and more dominant danthonia, and chewings fescue. Subterranean clover germinated, but was killed by the competition of ranker grasses on unmanured plots, while on the manured plots had more competition from white clover, which has a tendency to overshadow subterranean clover, the subterranean clover not doing well on these plots at any time. These plots were top-dressed with 2cwt, of superphosphate to the acre. The surface soil is of pumice origin, and on account of a general cobalt deficiency on this land cobaltiscd superphosphate is advocated. Mr. Taylor's Plots The pasture was well grazed, with only a light sprinkling of danthonia and vernal seed heads and a trace of chewings fescue heads and some weeds. The no-manure plot was relatively ungrazed and had a harsh appearanceand much seed-head. There was very little white clover, and it was an open and dry weedy sward. There was a definite line between this and manured plots. The effect of superphosphate topdressing was very noticeable in preferential grazing and in white' clover, which had come in strongly and was affording good cover. From a soil erosion point of view top-dressing was sound practice, Mr. Bates added, as a fairly complete mat of white clover stolons gave ground cover. Subterranean clover was disappointing at present, but dry conditions had prevented germination. Where subterranean clover had germinated, the plants were small and shrivelled on account of the extreme dryness of the season. ' The advisability of introducing a good type of white clover where topdiessing had been carried out was indicated in this trial. It was expected that subterranean clovers would come away when the autumn rains were experienced. The land was top-dressed with 2cwt , of superphosphate to the acre. The Part of Top-Dressing "The hill country of the East Coast. • especially, and also in most of the dis- ' trict, has danthonia pilosa as the dominant grass, with some brown top in the higher country or where the : rainfall is heaviest," Mr. Bates con- : tinued. "On the drier hill country, i usually not of a particularly high fer- i tility, perennials cannot persist, and i Grenadier Guards, "March of the , Little Fauns"; "Valse Creole." 9.12: (R) Gracie Fields (comedienne), "Grade's Selection." 9.18: (R) Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards, "Eton : Memories." 9.20: (R) "Eb and Zeb." i 9.35: (R) Lang Worth Military Band, ; "Under the Double Eagle"; "Lo, Ilea:' ; the Gentle Lark"; "Jolly Copper- ; smith"; "King Justice." 9.40: (ID ; Charlie Kunz (piano), "Kunz Revivals." 9.52: (R) Band of H.M. ; Grenadier Guards, Selections from the Processional Music used on Coronation Day, 1937. 10.0: Music, mirth and . me'ody. Empire Broadcast.— 6.30 p.m.: "The Last Town in England." J Story told by Patricia Docksey, men and women of Longtown, and Lady j Graham, of Notherby Hall. 7.0: BBC Empire Symphony Concerts, British I , Composers. 8.20: News. |. ;

the natural covering becomes dependent on annuals. "Where white clover is weak or absent, or where the low-producing strains, such as Ruckling clovers, are practically the only clovers to stimulate the introduction of subterranean clovers as a responding agent, '..opdressing may be well worth undertaking. Clovers respond to top-dress--111.? the most, and'the stimulation of grasses is mainly a secondary action' resulting from increased stocking and better cover. "On country good enough for a strong growth of white clover, th? subterranean clover cannot compete, but where white clover is weak and the pasture tends to open up, subterranean clover can take a hold and produce well in the late autumn and in early spring to December, under topdressing. Two Sub-Clover Strains "In damper seasons or in the damper situations, white clover may be dominant, while in dry seasons subterranean clover may be more general. So far the only varieties that have been tried out in this district are Mount Barker and Taiiarook. the latter being 10 days to a fortnight later than Mount Barker. Taiiarook, however, both establishes and reestablishes itself better in the pasture, and a mixture of the two strains is advocated. "Subterranean clover ger.ninates with the autumn rains, and this year much of the subterranean clover germinating after the light rains at the end of January and in the beginning of February has uoL survived the dry weather following. However, the rain experienced on March 8 has germiniuted more seed, and the subterranean