BETTER GRASSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 636, 12 April 1929, Page 11

BETTER GRASSES

FARMERS’ GREAT NEED EXPERIMENTS PROCEEDING Press Association PALMERSTON X., Thursday. Experiments that will revolutionise the grass seed industry in New Zen - land and play a very important part in building up production in the Dominion were disclosed to farmers during a field day at the plant research station to-day by Air. K. Bruce Levy. Summarised his announcements were, firstly, that Xew Zealand would very probably have to scrap its present red clover and introduce a different variety which will give infinitely better returns. Secondly, that Hawke’s Kay was the only district in Xew Zealand which could be relied upon for ryegrass. that true perennial, the socalled perennial ryes from Southland and Canterbury being not much better than Italian rye. Thirdly, that imported white clovers were not lasting in pastures more than a year or two, whereas Xew Zealand-grown white clover was permanent. These pronouncements are of tremendous importance to the farming industry. They w'ill mean, for instance, that whereas thousands of pounds have been sent out of the country each year for white clover seed, the money will now be spent in the Dominion, that by getting true perennu.l rye seed, permanency of pastures can be more readily' maintained, with attendant increase in production. The matter of replacing red clover will be a stupendous task, but according to Mr. Levy will be well worth while. Out of 104 plots of so-called perennial rye seed obtained from all over Xew Zealand 28 only had the true perennial characteristics, the rest being Italian or hybrids. Twenty-two Hawke’s Bay lots yielded 15 perennials: 12 Sandon rves yielded two true perennials, 30 lots from North and Mid-Canter-bury yielded three only true to type: of 40 lots from Southland, not one had come true: of three from Marlborough, only one came true. Farmers present inspected the plots, which were like a draughts board. Hawke’s Bay rye showing considerable | autumn growth and thick swards, whereas other ryes were short and sparse.