MASSEY COLLEGE

Waipa Post, Volume 46, Issue 3309, 30 March 1933, Page 5

MASSEY COLLEGE

MONTHLY BULLETIN.

SEEDING OF PASTURES. (By Wl. A, Jacques, B.Sc, N.D.A.) IMPORTANCE OF INITIAL CARE (IN SELECTING THE SEED. Of the several fundamental features of practical (importance in laying* land down to grass, the outstanding one is the use of correct seed. This in itself, however, is no insurance against failure. It should rather be. regarded as leading to success where the other cultural operations': in pasture establishment are, rigidi#\ebserved. If those are neglected; or insufficiently performed then ho amount of good seed will compensate for this omission. Naturally, the different types of land need somewhat different treatment before grass can be successfully established but seed mixtures have now been reasonably standardised.

Pasture Seed Mixture. —There are three basic mixtures for pastures on ploughable land and they each have their special place in farm practice. (1) The Temporary Mixture, which consists of 25-30, lbs Italian ryegrass and '6 lbs of red clover. This is intended to stay down for one or at most two years. This mixture is put down where a high yield of palatable grass and clover is essential without any regard for permanence. It makes an excellent temporary pasture and can '.be sown either in autumn .after, say, a grain crop or in spring following on a crop of swedes, chou moellier, \ etc. By sowing in autumn a useful winter pasturage is created and, what is more important, one that can if necessary be treated more severely than Tpermanent pasture. It can definitely be said that much actual damage is done to permanent pasture by too close grazings, particularly with sheep when the first growth is made. The establishment of temporary pastures not only helps to obviate this but also sweetens up the land, and allo.ws for the production of heavy crops of grass, or hay. (2) The Short!Rotation Mixture is intermediate between the temporary and the permanent mixture and is required to, stay down for two or three years.. The seeding rate is Italian ryegrass 15 lbs, perennial ryegrass 15 lbs, red clover 41bs, white lbs. This pasture is specially suitable for farming .conditions where crops other than grass are the main consideration or where satisfactory permanent pasture is difficult to obtain and maintaiin. Here again per.manence is not desired and a big proportion of short lived plants with a high producing capacity are used. If the pasture is to be kept down for three years, 8 lbs cocksfoot could replace 4 lbs of each of the ryegrasses. (3) The Permanent Mixture.—For general conditions in New Zealand the following seeding is recommendCertified perennial ryegrasses, 20>25 lbs; New Zealand cocksfoot, 10-11 lbs; crested dogstail, 3 lbs; Timothy, 3 lbs; New Zealand wild white clover, 2 lbs; red clover, 3 lbs. This is the mixture where permanence is of much value and at which research extended over many years has been directed. Where the summers are dry use the larger amount of cocksfoot and the smaller amount of ryegrass. For fertile swamp land up to two pounds of Poa trivialis and -six pounds of meadow foxtail can replace cocksfoot or where paspalum is used, ryegrass.

A CONSIDERATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES. Certified Perennial Ryegrass.—This seed should take pride of place in the mixture. Its permanence, bulk yield, recovery after grazing, response to manuring and power to withstand iheavy trampling make it one of the most useful plants in this country. It is essential to sow seed of high germination for best results. The idea that the best strains are associated with a low germination capacityhas been exploded and good lines can be had with as high a germination as the poorer ones. Where certified I seed cannot be obtained or is too dear, lines which are graded as satisfactory when tested under the ultra violet lamp should be substituted.

Cockfoot and Paspalum.—Only New Zealand cocksfoot seed should be used as this has proved of considerably more value than Danish. Where paspalum naturally thrives, 6-8 lbs can be used to replace cocksfoot. well harvested "New Zealand seed is as high in germination as the imported Australian seed; The seed can be soaked in order to increase the speed of germination, though this does not materially'improve IShe germination capacity. "An immersion of the seed for five, minu'tes in water at 60 deg. C. (140 deg: F.) gives good results and 18-24 hours at room temperature is equally successful. Temperatures over 60 deg. C. cause damage to the seed and a consequent depression in germination. Wild white clovery—This should also be of the;, best New Zealand permanent pasture strains and the short lived types though suitable • for the .temporary pastures must be avoided for the permanent ones.'... ,- '!' Red Clover. .Though frequently, only of, value in the early life of the pasture, there are 1 Strains which per- ! sist for a longer period than others; i these known as ,the late flowering group are at present under critical study and offer possibilities for greater permanence in this species.

One of the best known and most useful is Montgomery red clover. Timothy and crested dogstail vary as between samples, and only good seed with high germination should be considered. For dogstail germination capacity and "not colour should be the guide for purchase.