REMARKABLE GRASS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

REMARKABLE GRASS

AFRICAN DISCOVERY EFFECTIVE SOIL BINDER 'Prom time to time new grasses are discovered by agriculturists or “made” through cross-fertilisation by agristologists and win a brief season of popularity. A few only win a permanent place in' the pastures of subtropical lands where the long-tried and well-proved English grass and clover species thrive. Among the few which have won a permanent place in New Zealand are paspalum, lucerne, subterranean clover, and, in the north, kaikuyu grass. Many others have been tried and, sometimes because they are aggressive species which choke out other species, and more often perhaps because of their low palatability, they have lost favour. A new grass, which may possibly fall into the latler category, but for which great virtues are claimed, is known as "Giant Star.” This grass which is said to have been discovered in Kenya, Uganda, and Belgian Congo by a British agricultural expedition, is said to have great possibilities as a soil-binder on country subject to erosion, and at the same time produce a phenomenal amount of forage. Satisfactory Research Research designed to select the most promising strains of this new species is being carried out on a South African experimental station, and it ia stated that some plants have made as much as four inches growth in 24 hours. One plant spread over an

area of 8000 square feet in 5* months, it is said to remain beautifully green in the driest weather without irrigation, the roots penetrating to great depth and thus being effective soil - binders on loose or slipping soils and producing an enormous weight—said lo amount to 2251 b from a single plant.—of fodder of high feeding value in a few months. While this glowing report of the new “Giant Star” grass is alluring, pastoralists would be wise to exercise caution in introducing such a vigorous grower to their properties. It might readily prove to be so dominant that it would smother out more palatable species and even become such a > curse as tall fescue lias proved when its seed has been carried by rivers from the high and poor country where it is a useful fodder plant, to the rich low-land flats where it often becomes ail TmYwnfavilb»hle> mi>na/w