RED CLOVER IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24273, 2 November 1940, Page 12

RED CLOVER IN SOUTHLAND

Nitrogen Added To Soil EXPERIMENTS WITH MONTGOMERY USE IN PERMANENT MIXTURES A Farmer’s Notebook It is estimated that a good crop of red clover will add to the soil each year at least 60 to 801 b of nitrogen an acre, equivalent to between 300 and 4001 b of sulphate of ammonia. It is this characteristic of legumes, that is, their ability to use the nitrogen gas of the air, which is responsible for the fertilizing effects. All good farmers know that: pastures with low clover content are most unsatisfactory for grazing purposes; this is particularly the case when clover is absent from certified ryegrass pad docks. Two of the most important factors necessary for ideal conditions for clover growth are: first, sweet land, usually brought about in Southland by heavy liming; and second, adequate supplies of phosphate in the soil.

White clover is the chief medium of securing nitrogen in pastures. Red clover is also most valuable in this respect, but until a few years ago little reliance was placed upon it on account of its short life under grazing conditions. This particular handicap has been very largely done away with following the introduction of late-flower-ing Montgomeryshire red clover into this Dominion. This red clover is commonly called “Mont Red” and has become very popular in permanent pasture mixtures in Southland in recent years. Also, in a number of cases it has been sown as a special crop for hay making and ensilage purposes with very satisfactory results. The fact that Montgomery clover has turned up trumps under Southland conditions must have given a great deal of satisfaction to Mr A. Stuart, instructor in agriculture at Invercargill. For a number of years he preached its good qualities, and these were demonstrated on a field of permanent pasture on the Winton Experimental Farm. INTERESTING TRIALS For some seasons past it has been customary to review progress, results and general utilization of Montgomery clover under Southland conditions. During the past year some interesting observations have been made. A number of farmers have used the clover in various ways and with different combinations of grass-seeds. It is chiefly the utilization of the clover with various combinations of grasses, in comparisons with pure sowings, and lucerne that is of greatest interest at the present time. One of the outstanding features of Montgomery clover last autumn was the fact that on a number of farms scouring lambs when placed upon it were almost immediately cured of the trouble. In addition lambs fattened rapidly upon it, so much so that several farmers have expressed the opinion 1 that the crop is equally as good as rape for the purpose. One of its advantages over rape, which is an annual, is that the clover is a permanent crop for at least five to seven years. It is, of course, not subject to clubroot, and in addition the paddocks provide general grazing throughout the greater part of the year.

Therefore, as an economical lambfattening green crop it has been much superior to rape. While a number of results last season indicate its superiority over rape as an all-round crop it is, of course, not wise for farmers fully to rely upon its lamb-fattening properties until its behaviour in this respect is carefully checked during the next few seasons. However, last season was an unusually difficult one for fattening lambs and the fattening performance's of the Montgomery clover were noteworthy for that reason. For several years an endeavour has been made to ascertain the value of lucerne in comparison with Montgomery clover for hay and ensilage-making purposes. The first trial of this nature was sown five years ago by Mr G. Buchanan, jun, Thornbury. During that time a total quantity of five tons of carbonate of lime to the acre was applied and had the effect of completely eliminating acidity from the soil. The trial consisted of approximately pne acre each of lucerne and Montgomery. Up to last season the clover yielded a slightly greater quantity of hay than the lucerne, although it was possible to obtain three cuts of lucerne to two of clover each year. A feature of the trial has been that little grazing by stock was allowed—only a few weeks at the back end of each autumn. LUCERNE GROWING WELL A recent inspection of the area showed that the lucerne at present has made good vigorous growth, while the clover is suffering from a smother of volunteer grasses. The lucerne also has a considerable amount of grass in it, but is keeping well ahead of it. It is clear that to maintain the Montgomery clover in a strong sward it is necessary to graze the area in the spring with the object of keeping down the grass growth, and to allow the later growing clover an opportunity to do its best. The advisability of this method of management has been demonstrated on Mr H. G. Pinckney’s farm at Waimatuku. A paddock of some 10 acres was sown several years ago with 251 b of timothy and 61b of Montgomery Cleveland a good strike of both was obtained. This spring the timothy grew away with a rush with the result that the clover was in danger of being smothered. To counteract this the field was grazed with cattle and it has had the desired effect of allowing the clover to compete upon reasonably even terms with the grass. The paddock is now shut up and the crop is intended for hay-mak-ing in mid-December and the second cut for ensilage in the late autumn. •On heavy land and in districts where timothy grows well, the combination with Montgomery clover is an excellent one for hay and ensilage-making; also, a lot of good grazing for cattle is provided. Close continuous grazing with sheep needs to be avoided, as the timothy is very palatable, and severe punishment in this way is detrimental to heavy annual yield of the grass for hay or ensilage purposes. Another combination of Montgomery clover and grasses was sown two years ago on an eight-acre paddock at Myross

Bush on the farm of Mr J. C. Calvert. The mixture was sown at the rate of 381 b of seed to the acre, and consisted of 61b of Montgomery, 101 b of cocksfoot, 201 b of mother certified Italian ryegrass to the acre. This was broadcast with nearly 2cwt of super to the acre. In addition to this seed, 2J bushels of oats were drilled in with nearly 2cwt of potassic super to the acre. A dressing of 2 tons to the acre of carbonate of lime was also applied. The main object was to secure a paddock for annual hay-making purposes. AREA CLOSED

The Italian was expected to give good autumn and spring feed for two years, and then give place to the cocksfoot-clover combination. The paddock was sown in mid-October in 1938, and following the harvesting of the oat crop, which was an exceptionally good one, the area has been grazed until a few weeks ago when it was closed up. The winter stocking in 1939 and 1940 was very light indeed. A very recent inspection revealed a dense sward of Montgomery and Italian ryegrass, with a very limited amount of cocksfoot showing. Whether in future seasons the cocksfoot will strongly replace the Italian appears at the moment to be doubtful. In comparison with Mr Pinckney’s results with the timothyMontgomery stand, which is two years older, it appears that the cocksfootMontgomery mixture is not as good. In the Bayswater district an interesting trial of 41 acres of lucerne alongside 41 acres of Montgomery clover, both pure sowings, is to be found on Mr Manson’s farm on the Aparima river flat. Both lots have grown quite well, but of the two the Montgomery is now first favourite. There has been considerable invasion of volunteer grasses in both areas and so far this spring they have been grazed with sheep. In general Montgomery clover can be thoroughly recommended for inclusion in all permanent pastures mixtures at the rate of 2 to 31b to the acre on land that is in good heart and for special hay-making purposes in combination with timothy and Italian ryegrass at the rate of 61b to the acre. Its combination with cocksfoot still remains to be proved.