A Farmer’s Notebook FROM BROWNTOP TO MEADOW

Southland Times, Issue 23740, 11 February 1939, Page 19

A Farmer’s Notebook FROM BROWNTOP TO MEADOW

Converting Pasture Land GOOD RESULTS IN SOUTHLAND HEAVY APPLICATION OF LIME NECESSARY Methods of converting dominant browntop paddocks to a good sward capable of producing large numbers of fat lambs off the ewes are of interest to farmers who still have areas in a state of low production. A good example of the conversion from browntop to certified ryegrass and white clover is provided by Mr P. McLean at Waimumu in Eastern Southland. The farm consists to a great extent of clay country, and a fair representation of the original pasture in the unimproved portion can still be seen. The feed on this area, especially in the winter, has a low feeding value which does not compare favourably with that on the paddock that has been improved. The transformation process was begun by ploughing in 1936 and a crop of swedes was sown. The paddock was again ploughed 'in 1937 and was sown on January 1938 with 241 b of mother seed certified ryegrass and 21b of certified white clover to the acre. Before sowing in grass 2£ tons of carbonate of lime was broadcast to the acre and 2% cwt of superphosphate was sown with the seed. , ~ e j The result is a remarkably-fine paddock, densely covered with a sward of high economic value. There is hardly a weed visible on the whole area, ana the pasture is of a type well worth good treatment in regular topdressing to consolidate and maintain the fertility of the soil and the productiveness of the pasture itself. . The initial heavy application of lime at the rate of 2J tons to the acre is one of the most important features in the conversion of browntop land -which is usually in a sour condition. It has been shown by Mr McLean that big quantities of lime are profitable as it ensures good clover growth which builds up fertility for the grass very quickly. Although the practice of topdressing run out pastures has in the past not been advocated to any great extent, some exceptionally good results have been obtained. Among fat stock drafters it is common knowledge that welllimed and topdressed old pastures in many cases have produced high percentages of fat lambs off the ewes. For instance, Mr J. J. Flynn, of Waikouro, has had splendid returns from topdressing browntop paddocks at least 20 years of age. The estimated quantity of lime to the acre during that period is six to seven tons. These paddocks for the last few years have fattened practically every lamb off the ewes. Al- \ though the carrying capacity is hardly as high as on paddocks sown in good grasses the treatment has proved a really profitable proposition. SUFFOLK RAMS FOR SOUTHLAND Sheep farmers in Southland are fully alive to the advisability of maintaining a high standard of quality in fat lambs for export. During the past year some rams and ewes of breeds new to this province have been imported. The owners hope to produce a crossbred, type of lamb that will be equal, if not better than, the Southdown-Romney cross and during the next few years a good deal of most interesting information should be available. The latest arrivals are a line of 10 Suffolk 2-tooth rams which came by the Maunganui last week. These sheep are a fine, alert-looking lot of good conformation, and have been imported for Messrs Macassey and Sons, G. Stevenson, A. O. Fleming and Falconer Brothers, in the Dacre-Morton Mains districts. The animals were bred by Farrar Brothers, of Dysdale. Victoria, who have had satisfactory results with the Suffolk breed of sheep. The rams are of striking appearance with bald jet-black heads and legs and the progress of next season’s crop of lambs from them promises to be a source of great interest.

PREPARATIONS FOR FLUSHING EWES

The drafting of fat iambs off ewes has proceeded steadily during the week. A." number of farmers is giving special attention to the management, of the ewes that are now without lambs. These ewes are for the most part in a really fat condition and the immediate problem is to gradually check this in order that the ewes a little later on, may be put on fresh feed, and so arrive at mating time in good rising condition. Experienced flock masters have found that management of the ewes in this way is most necessary if a really high percentage of lambs is to be secured for the following season. Many farmers act accordingly, but others havp not yet realized the benefit to be secured. In the Dacre district, Mr George Stevenson, who recently secured a first draft of nearly 1000 lambs from the ewes, is making preparation to follow his usual practice of keeping the ewes on a reduced ration of grass for the next few weeks. Supplementary to this procedure is the work of topdressing several good pastures in order to have a supply of freshly grown, highly mineralized grass for the purpose of flushing the ewes for several weeks before tupping. . Mr Stevenson invariably uses 2cwt of superphosphate to the acre for this early topdressing. Scientific investigators have found by analysis that the phosphoric acid in superphosphate is found in the plants in five to seven weeks following application in good growing weather. Thus when high quality pastures are required for flushing the ewes at a certain period, it is most advisable to treat the paddocks a month to seven weeks before the time the feed is needed. The effectiveness of flushing was well demonstrated last season. The provision of the necessary fresh feed was a difficult matter under the prevailing dry conditions. Nevertheless, with the aid of ammoniated superphosphate it was successfully accomplished. One farmer obtained a lambing of 150 per cent, and others as high as 140 per cent. Results

of this nature are a very good illustration of the benefit to be secured, especially when it is remembered that the average lambing in Southland was below normal by 10 to 15 per cent. At present pasture growth is inclined to be too soft and the use of ammoniated super would have the effect of increasing this tendency. As pastures become more highly developed the problem of management in both stock and grasslands calls for more skill on the part of the farmer.