H.—34.

On the renovated area growth has been good with a continuous improvement in the content of perennial rye-grass. From the following it will be seen that the newly-sown pasture, now four years old, is just approaching the old pasture in yield : —

Table II.—Comparison of Yields of Dry Matter, in Pounds per Acre, for Renovated and Resown Pasture.

It appears from these data that several seasons of growth are required before a resown pasture may reach a condition satisfactory for relatively high carrying-capacity. In the 1933-34 season the yields on both pastures were lower than in 1932-33 owing to the very dry weather experienced, but it is obvious that the resown pasture is at least as productive in the second season as the old renovated pasture. On the resown area mowing-trials have been continued in the 1934-35 season, but as the season is not yet finished the yield data are not available. The season has been a relatively good one, and, particularly in the late summer and autumn, growth has been good. Effect of Leniency of Cutting on Yield. In March, 1933, an area, sown at the same time as the main experimental area discussed above, was set aside and top-dressed with sulphate of ammonia to see whether the total yield would be affected by cutting the pasture at three stages —(a) Short growth, about 2 in. to 3 in. ; (b) medium growth, about 6 in. ; and (c) ensilage and aftermath stages, after the pasture had been left in the late autumn to grow throughout the winter. A further dressing of sulphate of ammonia was given in the spring of 1933. A similar procedure was adopted during the 1934-35 season. Data for these two seasons are given in summarized form in Table 111. In both seasons the ensilage plus aftermath cuts have outyielded the cuts from the two shorter stages. There does not seem to be any great advantage in allowing growth to proceed to the 6 in. stage as compared with the 2 in. to 3 in. stage, since the differences shown in the above table are probably not significant. Sulphate of ammonia has in all cases given marked increases in yield in the spring period, the increase being least in the case of the 6. in. growth and greatest in the case of the ensilage. Later in the season, however, there is a tendency for the treated plots to fall below the untreated plots in yield ; this is particularly noticeable in the second season, in spite of the much more favourable conditions for pasture-growth in this season as compared with the first season. For the whole season the differences between treated and untreated plots, except ensilage, may not be significant. Under the conditions of this mowing-trial it would appear that, while sulphate of ammonia will give increased growth of spring grass, the succeeding lower yield is liable to annul the spring advantage, whether the pasture is closely mown or is allowed to grow to a somewhat taller stage before cutting ; on the ensilage plots marked increases are obtained from the use of sulphate of ammonia, but the succeeding aftermath on the treated plots may fall below that on the untreated plots. The total yields for the two cuts do show, however, a great increase where ammonium sulphate has been used.

Table III.—Effect of Leniency of Cutting on Yield of Pasture.

* Ensilage. t Aftermath.

34

Untreated. Complete Fertilizer. Season. I — : : 1 Benovated. ! Resown. ; Renovated. Resown. I I | • I I 1932-33 .. .. .. .. .. 2,603-8 j 2,414-1 4,677-1 4,077-5 1933-34 .. .. .. .. .. | 1,611-7 1,545-0 3,219-4 3,264-6

(Pounds of dry matter per acre.) Short Stage. Medium Stage. Ensilage and Aftermath. Period. Treated. ; Untreated. Treated. Untreated. Treated. Untreated : : I ' ! ! I 1st March, 1933, to 9th November, 1933 .. .. [2,075-1 j 1,683-5 2,162-2 1,908-3 5,077-0* 4,102-1* 10th November, 1933, to 28th March, 1934 .. 339-4 320-3 399-9 374-2 561-7f 520-2f Total, 1933-34 .. .. .. .. 2,414-5 2,003-8 2,562-1 ! 2,282-5 5,638-7 | 4 622-3 28th March, 1934, to 15th November, 1934 .. 2,436-6 2,153-0 2,336-6 2,227-0 6,313-5*1 4 970-9* 29th March, 1935, to 26th April, 1935 .. .. 1,615-7 1,710-8 1,471-9 1,683-4 1,641 7f l,800-3f Total, 1934-35 .. .. .. .. I 4,052-3 j 3,863-8 I 3,808-5 3,910-4 7,955-2 6,771-2