PASTURE JUDGING

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 16

PASTURE JUDGING

OAKURA FARMERS COMPETE. EVEN STANDARD OF ENTRIES. Farmers of the Oakura district have -entered the pasture competition this year for the first , time and the district has certainly made a very creditable showing. No fewer than 15 pastures were 1 judged by Mr. A. G. Elliott, when he visited the district yesterday. A ‘feature was the evenness of- the standard of the pastures, there being a difference of only 1 j points between ' the tgp seven pastures. Conditions for the judging were very unpleasant, rain falling practically throughout the day. The judge was accompanied by Mr. G. L. Grey, president of ffie Oakura branch of the Farmers’ Union. The party was entertained at luncheon by Messrs. Jans Bros, and at afternoon tea by Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Knight. The pastures were of an even standard, remarked Mr. Elliott, though some were showing a proportion of inferior grasses such as ratstail and sweet vernal, which were' usually found along the coast. The highest points were awarded to a pasture in the open class, which is defined as pasture grazed wholly or in part by other than dairy stock. This»particular open pasture had been grazed partly by pigs. That practice, Mr. Elliott pointed out, ajmost invariably had the effect of stimulating the growth of rye grass by hoof cultivation and by the droppings. Grazing with pigs also kept down the flat weed, but the clover proportion was generally not so high as might be seen where artificial fertilisers such as potash with lime were applied. ' The following entries secured the highest points in the district:

G. L. Grey S. Hawke (open) N. Wells I. L. Hart (open) . P. G. Knight ... Jans Bro J. Blakely CO VO CO Oa ca Oa CO —3 K y Good grasses 30. co to co GJ co co CO CO w w w Clovers 25. WWW co r., ir _ Freedom from Inf. io>- '*' NM Grasses 5. ten L*top Freedom from Weeds 10 K £ £ Denseness of sward 15. GJ CO GJ K»-* NH tv*-* GJ 2 K Si Evenness of sward 15. 03 OO CO oo oc oo OO OO “ jo Total points.