REGRASSING DEPLETED AREAS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 596

REGRASSING DEPLETED AREAS.

Of about seventy varieties of. grasses, clovers, and other deep-rooted plants being- tested for the re-vegetating of . grass-denuded areas in the South. Island, the tall oat-grass promises to be the most successful grass for the end in view. It has grown vigorously, and has stooled out well. A photograph of the grass on the following page will give some -idea of the splendid growth it has made, the specimen being fully 4- ft. in height from the root-system to the seed-head.

Mr. J. Montgomery, the well-known seed-merchant of Christchurch, has forwarded the following communication to Mr. A. Macpherson, the officer in charge of the co-operative field experimental work in the South Island :

“I recently visited the experimental grounds at Lindis Crossing, Central Otago, and thought you might be interested to hear some of the results from an unofficial source.

“ The most remarkable result, to my mind, was the growth of the Avena elatior (tall oat-grass). This seems to show a better growth on this class of soil than any'other variety of grasses sown. I think that, in view of the fact that this district is very dry in certain parts of the year, the experiments would be worth continuing. ' Evidently the chief trouble with the soil on the Morven Hills Estate is that, the vegetation having been eaten up by rabbits for a series of years, there is no appreciable humus left in the soil. The. first consideration is to get some vegetable plants to grow which will regenerate the soil. Lettuce, chicory, and sheep’s burnet all seem to do well, and cocksfoot, as usual, shows better, growth than any of the finer grasses, though not so’ good as Avena elatior. The experiments there have been very' carefully conducted, but, owing to those in charge having to rely on local farmers for horses and implements, they were unable to get the seeds sown at the right period of the year, consequently many of the experiments were not of much value. If the best work is to be got out of these experimental plots a team of horses and implements should be provided.

“ The oats have not shown up very well, being sown too late. The Garton varieties, if anything, promise the best results. It seems a pity that this district should be depleted of all vegetation. I feel sure that this soil is capable of growing root crops, and we 11 worth some expense to determine the most suitable grasses for the distr ic t. Rabbits, o f course, have complete control at present, but could be exterminated under systematic methods of poisoning and trapping. That this district is capable of carrying a large quantity of stock is obvious from examination of some plots of land on- the Queensbury side, where ryegrass and clovers are gr o wing luxuriantly under irrigation.”