GOOD PASTURE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1935, Page 15 (Supplement)

GOOD PASTURE

RESULT OF JUDGING NORTH TARANAKI ENTRY \, MR. W. F. GOODIN WINNER COMMENTS 'BY THE JUDGE The judging of the pasture competition organised by tire joint committee representing the Taranaki Agricultural Society and the Farmers’ Union has been completed and the following table showing entries from the various districts since the inauguration of the class in 1930 is an indication of the interest shown by farmers throughout the territory', reports the judge, Mr. A. G. Elliot, instructor in agriculture:—

Each pasture entered in the competition was judged in the spring and again In the autumn, this procedure being generally regarded as the most sound and equitable method of awarding points on the basis of all-the -year-round production of feed and utilisation and management of fields. ' Judging was carried out by observation and points were allotted on the same scale as last season—good grasses 30, clovers 25, freedom from inferior grasses 5, freedom from weeds 10, denseness of sward 15, evenness of sward 15, total 100. A full explanation and definition of each of these sub-divisions was presented in the report last year and further experience has not afforded any reason to make any alterations for the future as the present method is proving as satisfactory as Is possible under the very varied conditions which obtain throughout the territory. In order to have the North Taranaki championship awards made under conditions as closely comparable as possible it was decided that this season the first five pastures should be re-judged on the same day, but as there was so little difference between some entries the number was increased to eight. While in many cases competitors entered only the best pasture oh the farm a number submitted entries of fields concerning which they were in doubt as to whether they should prove an economical proposition to bring back by topdressing and good management instead of- being ploughed and later re-sown.

METHODS OF REGENERATION.

While it is an honour to a district to have the winner of the open championship in its community every encouragement should be given to those farming pastures of doubtful value as exemplified above to enter them and thus be enabled to secure a definite opinion as to the success of the method of regeneration employed, from the result of the judging each season. In other words, this competition should be viewed . in its widest sense as offering an. excellent means of raising the standard of pastures and pasture management and utilisation throughout each district and thus in North Taranaki generally. ' Great credit is due to those competitori who enter good pastures each season as.they have in’most cases raised them to the present standard by their , own effort and .initiative, but where one must naturally look for the marked Improvement in the future is from pastures lower down the championship list, usually on country, in not such an advanced state of fertility and where good methods must in time bring greatly increased carrying capacity through the establishment and maintainance of better swards. From information, supplied by competitors the following useful data is , obtained:— The average of paddocks entered was 6.3 acres, the actual sizes being: 3 acres, 9; 4 acres, 18; 5 acres, 23; 6 acres, 17; 7 acres, 12; 8 acres, 11; 9 acres, 3; 10-15 acres, 11; 15-20 acres, 2; over 20 acres, 1. These figures show clearly that the value of sub-division and controlled grazing is fully realised in the district, and it is obvious that in regard to this very important factor in increasing production, farmers are making a real effort to follow practices which have proved profitable in other dairying districts. The average age of pastures entered was 12.5 years, shown individually as follows: 3-7 years old, 20; 7-10 years old, 33; 10-15 years old, 22; 15-20 years old, 15; over 20 years old, 17. OLDEST PASTURES AMONG BEST. Pastures to be eligible for entry must be three years old, and the figures presented emphasise the fact that in general most of the oldest pastures are among the best, and as was shown last season the average age of the first 10 this ygar was 12.6 years. Details of the time of sowing were available in 95 instances, and of these 79 were sown in the autumn and 16 in the spring, while of the latter the majority were established in the inland districts. The quantity of seed per acre varied from 30-651 b per acre as shown by the following table: 30-401 b per acre, 20; 40-441 b, 19; 45-491 b, 20; 50-54, 11; 55-591 b, 3; 60-651 b, 6. A study of these figures shows that more than half the entries were sown at the rate of 20-501 b per acre, which can consequently be regarded as being an economical and satisfactory seeding. As shown above, however, the 1 average age of the first 10 pastures was over 12 years and details of seedings were not available in some instances. The opinion is freely expressed, and is founded on experience in many districts, that the only method of securing the necessary quick cover to control weed growth and give the young pasture the best possible chance for forming a close sward is by sowing down with heavier seedings from 50-601 b per acre. It is possible, however, that two or possibly three very important factors have been overlooked by those who advocate heavy seedings. ’ These are (1) the thorough preparation of the land prior to sowing to cope with weed growth; (2) the higher standards of germination and purity of seeds now on the market; (3) the great importance of consolidation of the seed bed and correct cover of the seed after sowing. Of these the first two are obviously matters which can easily be agreed upon, as in the first instance the comparatively small cost of an additional working will be amply compensated for in the securing of a clean “strike,” which is of the utmost importance in the later life of the pasture. In considering the second factor it must be admitted that where say rye-

grass of known and proved type and over 95 per cent, purity and germination is used one bushel should be ample in a 451 b mixture. Consequently with improvement in seeds it is not necessary to sow extra for a possible loss, and the heavy seedings should be unnecessary under - good conditions. The third factor raises, however, what is possibly a very controversial matter but one that can be readily argued by the farmer himself provided he keeps in mind the fundamental fact that seeds of grasses and clovers have no reserve as do those of, say, beans and peas. The first requisite is of course the soil moisture, and this is available only on a firm seed bed where capillary action is possible, and after germination the fine roots immediately seek plant food in solution from the soil. This of course introduces the question of sowing fertilisers with the seed, but that will be discussed later. It seems that more than the present amount of consolidation common throughout the district should be employed, and the seeds should be covered ■to such a depth as to enable them to be in contact with soil moisture and yet be as free as possible from depredations of birds. The open, friable soils predominating in the territory require more consolidation than was probably thought necessary in earlier times, and one reason why the older pastures still show up so well in comparison with later'sown ones may be due to the fact that rather poor “strikes” were secured and the present swards are the result of many years of top-dressing and good management and utilisation.

It is a practice in some districts to drive sheep over the newly sown areas, and this is obviously an appreciation of the importance of consolidation, which in this instance is carried out by the mob which gives hoof cultivation as well as a firm seed bed with the necessary cover for ’the seed. MANURE WITH THE SEED./ Of the 79 entries manure was sown in 60 cases, a great variation being sown as shown by the following table: No manure, 19; superphosphate, 32; super plus lime, 8; super plus bonedust, 5; super plus basic slag, 1; bonedust; 3; proprietary, 8; blood and bone, 2; North African phosphate, 1. In this connection it is evident that the importance of having readily available plant food close to the young seedlings is fully realised, and the use of superphosphate on 32 sowings emphasises this fact. It is probable that the addition of slag, lime or either blood and bone or bonedust would have improved the position in giving an extended fertiliser effect, and the use of such mixtures is a practice in certain districts. Subsequent top-dressings were:—

The greatly decreased use of slag is undoubtedly due to the difference iq price between it and other fertilisers in the present time of restricted finances for top-dressing, and the figures above are a remarkable example of how farmers are trying out various straight manures and mixtures in an effort to economically replace one with which they were familiar through years of its application. It is obvious that super is forming the bulk of all mixtures to supply the necessary phosphate basis but nitrogen in the? form of the organic manures and as sulphate' of ammonia is being tried. Potash is also being tried in a number of cases, and in addition to the mixtures shown above it is a constituent in most of those made up by merchants and included in the table under the head “proprietary.” Lime plus super in the table includes. proprietary manures which are combinations of these two topdressings, and the addition of lime to super Is becoming an increasingly popular farm practice in top-dressing. While the use of lime and phosphates must be regarded as a sound economic proposition the question as to the use of nitrogen and potash is still in the investigational stage, although in regard to the latter there are a number of successful farmers in the various districts who annually include it in. their topdress mixtures. The quantity of top-dressing applied varied from 2 to scwt per acre as

Quantities up to 3cwt per acre were applied in one dressing, while those over 3cwt were in most cases top-dressed half in the autumn and half in the spring.' The practice of making two 'applications is gaining favour, and it seems as though it will become the regular method as financial conditions improve. TYPES OF HARROWS USED. The importance of harrowing in good pasture management is obviously recognised, and while there is not much definite knowledge available on the subject the fact that only seven competitors entered areas which had not been treated With this implement is significant. It is agreed that it is necessary to harrow with some form of implement to spread droppings and to some extent to cope with undesirable, roughage and weed growth, but there is not a great deal of information available on the subject of root pruning and soil aeration in the well established sward. A study of the data given below is interesting: Tripods 34, Burke 17, chain 11, Whakatane 10, Taylor 7, chain and tine 7, Reid and Gray 4, Evona 3, Wilson 2, Wright Stephenson 2, Duncan 1, Alfa 1, Massey 1. More than half of the areas entered were harrowed with a tripod or development from this type of flexible implement, and quite good work is performed by them. It is open to question but it would appear that the use of the heavier and more severe types is largely governed by the condition of the sward and whether it is proposed to follow the operation by the inclusion of pasture seeds in the top-dressing mixture and subsequent rolling. In this case the use of such an implement can scarcely be termed harrowing in the generally accepted use of the word, as it is. actually a method of surface cultivation by which a more or less deteriorated pasture could be brought back by use of the implement, and following the procedure outlined above instead of breaking up and re-sowing later. The quesr tion of the drastic harrowing of a close sward of highly productive pasture plants is extremely controversial and is the subject of investigation. The following table shows the number of times the various pastures were harrowed: 1 stroke 24, 2 strokes 34, 3 strokes 13, 4 strokes 15, 5 strokes 7, 6 strokes 6, 7 strokes 0, over 7 strokes 1, no harrowing 7. CARRYING CAPACITY. 1 As an example of how the smaller ’farms under more intensive management compare with larger areas on which less care and attention can be given to each acre the following figures which can be re-

garded as representative of the whole territory are interesting: Up to 50 acres, 181 acres per cow; 51' to 75 acres, 1.97; 76 to 100 acres, 2.03; 101 to 150 acres, 211; over 151 acres, 2.13. The following table shows the carrying capacity on farms of competitors in groups of 10 and illustrates the fact thdt the field entered does not necessarily receive special treatment but is an example of the general pastures farmed: Competitors securing over 180 points, 1.56 acres per cow; competitors securing 175-1794 points, 1.93; 170-174 J points, 2.07; 165-169 J points, 2.39. The champion pasture for the season was the No. 1 entry of Mr. W. F. Goodin, Okato, which was awarded 184 points. It was 7*2 acres in area and nine years old, sown in the autumn with 601 b of seed per acre. It was top-dressed in 1932 and 1933 with basic slag at 3cwt per acre, and last season had the same amount of guano. The pasture was harrowed six times with the tripod and chain and was topped in the _ 1932 and 1933 season. Ryegrass and white clover were dominant in the sward, with timothy and a small proportion of paspalum, but; the denseness and evenness, of the sward were outstanding. This competitor entered two other fields which were also high up in the district list, showing that his standard of pas-> ture on the farm is high. The champion field secured second place last season and grazes 120 cows when being fed off. Mr. J. N. Blyde, Lepperton secured second place with a field 3A acres in area which was awarded 182 points and which is over 20 years old. It has been top-dressed twice each year as follows: 1932, 2Jcwt super in the Spring and 3cwt calciphos in the winter; 1933, 2Jcwt super and llcwt 30 per cent, potash in spring and scwt lime, 21cwt super and 2ctyt 30

I per cent, potash in winter, while last season it received 2cwt super and ljcwt 130 per cent, potash in spring, followed by 4cwt lime, 2Jcwt super and IJcwt 30 per cent, potash in winter. This pasture was awarded highest honours in the autumn judging in the whole territory and is dominant in ryegrass and white clover, with timothy and cocksfoot, the whole sward being dense and even and remarkably free from weeds. It was harrowed three times with the Burke implement and was topped once during the season. Mr. J. H. Paulger, Tikorangi, was awarded third place with a 12-year-old pasture of 4 acres the autumn with 401 b of seed per acre and 3cwt of superphosphate. This entry secured 181 points, and the dense, even sward consisted of ryegrass, cocksfoot and white clover, with a small percentage of paspalum and crested dogstail. In 1932 it received 3cwt superphosphate, with lewt 30 per cent, potash, in 1933 2cwt super lewt 30 per cent, potash, and last season as in 1933. It was, harrowed 12 times during the season with a Wright, Stephenson harrow and was topped once. This entry was second highest in the autumn judging. ' Mr. G. Downes, Wharehuia, secured fourth position with his entry in the open class, a 5-aere field nine years old, sown in ike autumn with -501 b of seed and 3cwt proprietary grass manure. It was top-dressed in 1932 with basic slag 3cwt and in 1933 with calciphos 3cwt, but no fertiliser was applied last season. The pasture is dominantly ryegrass, cocksfoot and white clover, with a small percentage of ribgrass and.dandelion, and was harrowed twice with tripod and chains and cut for hay. Details of points awarded to the first 25 competitors are:—

co CO CM c? CM CO CQ O CO 3 o> s co CO Co Urenui Inglewood Huirangi .... 23 11 24 6 8 22 2 7 17" 12 12 10 17 11 Kaimata .... 4 4 3 11 D A Lepperton Tikorangi 14 4 8 7 9 7 7 10 2 Okato ... 9 9 5 20 — Toko 7 10 8 5. — Tarurutangi . . 5 7 8 8 — Wharehuia 17 15 16 — — Omata ■— 3 4 — — Hurworth .... — 2 — Oakura ...... 11 — — — Hillsborough . — 3 — — — Ngaere 10 — •— —. — Tariki j........ 3 •— — ■ ■ — — — Totals .... 107 115 93 102 50

1932 1933 1934 Basic slag 30 17 9 Superphosphate 36 31 23 Lime plus super .... 19 21 22 Slag plus super .... 4 3 4 Slag plus potash .... - 1 ,1 Phosful 5 2 2 Phosful plus super Super plus blood and 1 v - - bone * 1 2 3 Blood and bona .... 1 1 «■ -■ Aminoniated super Slag plus ammoniated - ■ « 2 super 2 *• 8 Super plus potash .. 2 4 Rock phosphates .. •? 2 5 Proprietary 6 9 19 No manure .,...... 7 9

shown below:— 1932 1933 1934 2cwt per acre .... 4 3cwt per acre «... . 84 82 76 4cwt per acre .... . 17 13 12 5cwt pel- acre .... 3 2 6

1 % § 0 g J! 2 1 S CM o <u U fa w § g 0 r 43 <D £ g 2 f O £ 3 Q l a o W £ 3 £ o as 0 F. Goodin, Okato (1) .. 27 24 44 9 14 14 924 27 231 4J 84 14 14 914 184 J. N. Blyde, Lepperton ............ 27 23 4J 8 134 14 90 27 24 41 84 14 14 92 182 J. H. Paulger, Tikorangi .. 264 231 4 8 131 14 89J i 261 24 44 84 14 14 911 181 G. Downes, Wharehuia (Open) .... .. 261 23 4 8' 134 14 89 27 231 41 81 14 14 911 180 A W. J. Freeth, Pukearuhe (1) .. 26 24 4 9 14 14 90 26 24 4 84 13J 14 90 180 P. A. Openshaw, Lepperton (1) ... .. 264 23 44 84 141 14 91 26 23 4 8 14 14 89 180 J. Cloke, Lepperton (Open) .. 27 221 ' 44 84 14 14 90S 261 23 44 8 .134 131 89 1791 H. C. Taylor, Ngaere (2) .. 261 24 44 8 13 13 89 261 24 44 71 134 14 90 179 R. Wellington, Wharehuia (oppn) . ,. 261 23 4 8 14 14 894 261 22J 4 8 14 141 894 179 W. J. Freeth, Pukearuhe (2) . 25 241 4 8 13J 14 89 1 . ' 25J 24 4 9 131 14 90 179 F. Goodin, Okato (3) .... . 27 24 4 8 14 131 904 261 231 4 71 131 131 881 179 J. J. Carey, Okato .. 27 24 44 74 14 13 90 -• 27 24 44 61 14 13 89 179 ,. 26 24 44 8 134 14 90 251 24 4 8 134 14 89 179 A. D. Walker, Ngaere (1) .......... . 26 231 44 81 14 14 901 26 231 4 8 > 131 13 88 178J . 26 22 4 81 14 14 884 26 22J 4 84 14 14 89 1774 C. Honeyfield, Urenui . 261 231 3 8 134 14 884 261 23J 4 8 13 14 89 1774 F. Goodin, Okato -(2) . 261 231 4 74 131 14 89 261 23 4 74 131 14 884 1774 S. Managh, Urenui 26 23 4 8 14 . 14 89 251 23 4 8 14 131 88 177 . 26 221 41 84 13 14 884 26 23 4 8 134 14 '■ 881 177 E. Mahon, Tariki . 261 23 4 71 13 14 88 . 26J 23 4 8 13 14 881 1761 L. Martell, Toko . 25 22 44 7-4 141 14 874 25 23 4 74 141 14 88 1754 R. Weeden, Urenui (2) . 24 241 3} 81 131 134 871 25 24 34 81 134 134 88 1754 R. B. Sutton, Inglewood . 25 22 4 8 13J 14 861 26 4 8 131 14 88 1741 H. T. Paul, Okato . 25 22J 4 8 13 14 864 251 23 4 8 134 14 88 1744 C. Honeyfield, Urenui (2) . 26 23, 34 8 13 14 874 26 221 31 8 13 14 87 1741