VEGETATION ON HILL COUNTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 244, 16 October 1940, Page 3

VEGETATION ON HILL COUNTRY

NEW AMERICAN GRASS Many gallons of ink have been devoted to explaining the causes of the deterioration of vegetation on South Island hill country and to the urgent need of something being done to arrest the movement, but little has been accomplished of a practical nature in this direction except by individual runholders. Most grasses known in our practice have been tried out with only partial success. American stock papers recently have been devoting a good deal of space to a new grass introduced a number of years ago from the steppes of Russia, whence some of the hardiest types of lucerne were imported to America towards the end of last century (says a writer in the Press). Though making little progress for a number of years, the plant (one of the blue-grass variety) is now rapidly spreading to great areas of range country, comparable according to the description of its habits, to our front hill of low range country, or, in America, from 2000 to 6000 feet. The August issue of the National Woolgrower devotes a lengthy space to the new plant—bulbous bluegrass (poa bulbosa). Stockmen who are becoming actively interested in range improvement are considering the possibilities of this new grass. The most extensive areas of the plant are found on the deserts and foothills of Turkestan and other parts of Asia, where the annual rainfall is approximately 5 to 10 inches, and the temperature ranges from 49deg. F. below zero to 106 deg. F. above. On extensive areas in that region it often comprises as much as 50 per cent, of the total vegetation and furnishes excellent grazing for livestock. Bulbous bluegrass was introduced into the eastern United States in 1906, but the commercial and economic possibilities were realised shortly after 1915, when accidental introductions in alfalfa seed and by other agencies brought it to areas where soil and climatic conditions were similar to those of its native land. Since then, it has spread rapidly and is now widely distributed throughout the United States. In the intermountatin region bulbous bluegrass grows aggressively and reproduces on roadsides, pastures, and waste places along the foothills’ and valley edges. Tn general, these 1 areas have a good distribution of precipitation during the spring and autumn seasons, and range to over 6000 feet elevation In other parts of the region. Bulbous bluegrass does well on dry, gravelly benches and slopes where the soil is low in organic matter and poor in moisture-holding capacity. IL even grows where many of the better native forage species no longer thrive and where reseeding with ordinary species has been difficult. The aggressiveness of bulbous bluegrass is shown by the foothold it has gained from recent introductions. Local residents point to many places that were once covered with cheatgrass (bromius tectorum) and other annuals of low value, but which now support a good sod of perennial bulbous bluegrass. In experiments with three other drought-enduring species the bluegrass had the highest survival of any species. Future Possibilities In any attempts made in the South Island to revegetate the high country

! we have been content largely to rely on those better known species of plants which succeed well in more congenial conditions. There has been little new. Other countries have the same problems —America much "more so"—and it might be well worth while lor our Agricultural Department to acquire a few pounds of the new seed and try it out here. The following epitomises American graziers' ideas on the possibilities of the plant: Stockmen report that bulbous bluegrass is eagerly taken by livestock and that all classes of stock do well on it. Bulbous bluegrass usually produces a heavy, viable seed crop and is capable of reseeding itself under moderate grazing. Very little forage is produced during the summer, but the early spring growth combined with autumn re-growth provides feed at the very time when it is most needed on the inter-mountain ranges. To increase the carrying capacity of this type of range will not only improve the range but will relieve the grazing pressure on winter and summer ranges. The sites to which this grass is adapted are not now growing the quantity of feed that , they are capable of producing. Generally also, the species now present have low value as livestock forage. Because bulbous bluegrass is not highly inflammable the damage to the soil and the vegetation likely to result from recurrent fires will be much re- ' duced. It is on the large areas of poorer foothill ranges where the soil is thin and possesses little ability to hold moisture that bulbous bluegrass can be recommended and where it should increase the amount of palatable forage. Cheapness of seed (51b to 10!b an acre), ease of sowing, and relative , certaintly of establishment easily , justify stockmen who possess this type I of land to increase their forage sup- ’ ply and economic returns by planting - a few acres of bulbous bluegrass.