A Farmer’s Notebook EVEN RAINFALL AN ASSET

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 18

A Farmer’s Notebook EVEN RAINFALL AN ASSET

Southland Farmers Very Fortunate DROUGHT IN NORTHERN DISTRICTS CENTRAL OTAGO SUFFERS In Southland and elsewhere climatic conditions are a much-discussed subject. City dwellers are inclined to be somewhat peeved at week-ends when the sky is overcast and the weather generally is unfavourable for outdoor hobbies. Farmers also complain to some extent when showery weather interferes with hay making, and considerable difficulty was experienced at that period this season. However, from an agricultural viewpoint farmers in the western and coastal districts of Southland have a great deal for which to be thankful. The greatest asset is the fairly even annual rainfall which has been reasonably well distributed throughout each season. As the result of this it is a well-known fact that so far in the History of Southland there has not been a complete and general failure of crops in the areas mentioned. Further confirmation of this is to be found in the annual high and fairly even returns of primary products. To those who are interested in agriculture and are somewhat critical of the vagaries of the weather, a tour of the South Island at the present time should prove an education. In contrast with the heavy and luxuriant pasture growth over a big area in this province many northern districts are suffering from the effects of an exceptionally dry period. Parts of North Canterbury and Marlborough have had a long spell of dry weather and both pastures and crops have been adversely affected. Nearer home very dry conditions have been experienced from Dipton north through Mossburn, Five Rivers and extending into Central Otago. Near Garston the Mataura river is very low and residents are able to cross it at will. Towards the source the river-bed is comnletely dry. Approaching Mataura, the Lumber Box creek has almost ceased to exist, also a number of springs which have flowed continuously for 30 years have now disappeared. ' In the Pembroke district Lake Wanaka has appreciably decreased in size. One old resident remarked that the dry spoil was more severe than any other in the past 30 years. Turnip and swede crops present a forlorn appearance. They have been attacked by myriads of the diamond-back moth family and it is doubtful if some of the crops will survive. Glendhu Bay, which has an average annual rainfall of 30 inches, has also suffered severely and some big fires in bracken country have taken place. z Some disadvantages do occur from intermittent rain at important periods in the rotation of farm work. Nevertheless, these in comparison with the losses incurred as the result of drought periods are almost negligible. The average rainfall over the whole of Southland is barely 40 inches, while Taranaki and the Waikato average in the vicinity of 74 inches. Total rainfall is a factor of importance, but to the farming community a reasonably even distribution throughout the year is a greater asset, the western and coastal districts of this province being extremely fortunate. CARE OF PASTURES IN DOMINION

It is more than a coincidence that overseas visitors who are interested in grasslands invariably express the opinion that the high-producing pastures of New Zealand are at least equal to anything in the world, and, also that grassland management has reached a very high standard. After making due allowance for courtesy and politeness, there is no doubt that high production on our best pastures is a tribute to the ability of progressive farmers in this country. However, the care of pastures and the soils upon which they grow is a problem that never stands still. Prudent men continuously check up on the appearance, fattening and carrying capacity of their fields and find it necessary at intervals to alter the method of grazing or to supply some additional mineral element. One of the most interesting studies of pastures is the composition of the sward, It is also surprising to find that a big number of really good practical farmers possess comparatively little detailed knowledge of the structure of pasture plants. They find some difficulty in identifying types of grasses during the periods whfcn seed heads are absent. In cases where farmers are intending to buy land in districts with which they are not intimately acquainted, aptness in determining the species of plants present is most useful in estimating the value of pastures. A great deal of very useful information on grasses is to be found in Bulletin No. 49 by H. H. Allan, botanist to the Plant Research Station, Palmerston North. His description of the characteristics of grasses form a basis upon which observational powers can be developed. The foundation of all plants is to be found underground, so Mr Allan begins his summary at that point. “The Roots. —These arise from the lowest swelling or node of the stem. If the grass has a creeping or an underground stem, roots spring from each node. Roots generally are fibrous. “Stems.—Flowering stems are round and generally hollow, except at the nodes. Branches spring from the base of the stems. If they grow up inside the leaf-sheath they form tuft-like plants (like cocksfoot, oat and barley). If the shoots pierce the leaf-sheath and grow horizontally the plant forms a closely-matted turf. (Examples, Chewing’s fescue and tall fescue.) Underground cheeping stems are called rhizomes. (Examples, couch grass and Poa pratinsis.) Creeping stems above ground are called stolons. (Examples, buffalo grass.) Timothy, perennial canary grass and bulbous oat grass have bulbous bases to their stems. “Leaves.—Two parts, blade and sheath. The sheath surrounds young shoots and is usually split down one side. ’ Little tongue (ligule) at junction of leaf and sheath, sometimes absent, sometimes replaced by ring of

hairs, as in Danthonia, and so on. Some grasses such as barley, wheat and ryegrass have two little ears or auricles, one projecting on either side at base of leaf.”

“Here are points to observe: (a) The shape: Whether broadest near base (like cocksfoot); with parallel sides canoe-shaped end (like the Poas); tapering above and below (like sweet vernal) or very narrow (like sheeps’ fescue). (b) Whether flat, or having a prominent mid-rib, forming a heel on the under side. Keel is present in some grasses on the sheath also, and is useful as a means of identification. Poa annua has transverse wrinkles on the leaf blades, (c) Whether folded or rolled in the bud. (d) Presence or absence of hairs on leaf and sheath, and their position when present. (e) Whether hard or soft to the touch. If rough, notice whether they appear so when stroked upwards or downwards, (f) Nature of ligules, when present, long, short, pointed, blunt, ragged, hairy or smooth, (g) Presence or absence of auricles. Examples.—barley, large auricles, smooth. Wheat, somewhat smaller auricles, hairy. Rye, small auricles. Oat, no auricles, (h) Shade of green of leaves. Examples.—Timothy, bluishgreen. Poa annua, light green, (i) Colour of leaf sheaths. Examples.— Leaf sheath of crested dogstail is bright yellow, while that of Yorkshire fog has pink veins.” It is obvious from the summary given that identification of grasses requires a good deal of study. As with all other forms of knowledge, it is easily carried and the problem is really not so formidable as a detailed, explanation of various points would lead one to think. Seventy young farmers of Southland who have made application to attend the three days’ agricultural course beginning at Gore on Tuesday next will have a splendid opportunity of gaining first-hand information. Mr Saxby Department of Agriculture, Dunedin, is a well-known authority on the subject and he will show lantern illustrations, and later give a practical demon - stration on Mr C. Tripps’s farm at Kaiwera.