KIKUYU GRASS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6441, 22 January 1924, Page 8

KIKUYU GRASS

ITS VALUE POE HAY It is about live years since kikuyu was first introduced on the Government experimental areas at Puwera and Albany. Each year the results achieved, when tried under different conditions, are more encouraging. It has been tried as pasture for cattle, sheep and • horses, and these stock like it. It has combined well with clovers and lotus major (particularly the latter) and has produced excellent growth. At Puwera it was tried out last season on a field on the gum lands. It quickly covered the ground, and in combination with red and white clovers produced a good sward. This was grazed by cattle, which showed a preference for the kikuyu. They also had access to paspalum, and a pasture of mixed rye grasses, cocksfoot and clovers. Last winter the area was top-dressed with slag and super mixed and the area cut for hay. The hay yield was heavy and the quality very good. Stock eat the hay very readily. It : is claimed in Africa that it is an excellent hay grass.

THE GRASS IN AFRICA

Mr Fred White, a farmer tfrom North Auckland, who has just returned from Africa, saw kikuyu growing

in British East Africa, the kikuyu Country, and other districts including Rhodesia, where,, the original roots were secured, from which the areas were laid down at Puwera and Albany. He was much impressed by the vast areas he saw in Africa, where kikuyu was the sheet anchor of the grazier. It grows luxuriantly, throwing succulent feed up to a foot and 18 inches high. It had not seeded in New Zealand, though this season it has shown what appears to be a flowering head. “The matter of flowering and seeding are being followed up very closely,” stated Mr T. H. Patterson, who has charge of the experiments at Puwera and Albany, when discussing the merits of kikuyu, “as the usefulness of the grass will be limited if it does not seed.” Mr Fred White stated that it does seed in Africa, as it appeared in head while he was there.

A correspondent writing to the Forestry Magazine, says: “The old type of pigs called ‘Captain Cook’, which were originally given to the Maoris by Captain Cook in some localities and liberated by him in others have in the last 25 years lost many of their main characteristics, by the infusion of fresh blood provided by Tamworth and Berkshire pigs escaping to the forest. This infusion has produced a pig, vigorous, carrying better condition, and a keen fighter and a killer. It is no uncommon sight to see wild pigs of the rich brown colour of the Tamworth and the black of the Berkshire in good condition, out on the fern-clad hills feeding.”