Feeding Pampas Grass on Hill Country

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 59, Issue 3, 15 September 1939, Page 248

Feeding Pampas Grass on Hill Country

r T’’HE utilisation of pampas grass as THE supplementary fodder grass as a supplementary fodder on the hill country of the central North Island districts has occupied considerable attention during recent years, and it is gratifying to learn of the success of some farmers with this crop. The chief problem in these districts is the wintering of a sufficient number of cattle to crush secondary growth in the spring successfully. Cattle are undoubtedly the best medium in this respect, but, to keep, down , bracken fern and other growths, they must come out of the winter in a strong and healthy condition. In the ordinary course of events farmers are forced to sell off a certain number of their cattle in the autumn and to buy again in the spring. Economically this is not a sound practice, for the farmer is selling on a falling market and buying on a rising one. Generally, the critical months for feed are July, August, and September, and it is at this time that some extra fodder is needed to tide stock over the winter. In most of the hill districts only limited areas are suitable for swedes and for hay crops. Pampas grass is, without doubt, the ideal fodder to supplement these crops further.

Establishment One of the most successful methods of establishing plantations is first to establish seedling plants in a nursery in the spring when danger of severe frost is over. The plants are spaced Ift. apart and in rows 2ft. apart. The plants are kept in the nursery, for one year, and in that time ■ they stool out considerably and grow to a height of between four and five feet. In the spring all foliage is removed from the plants to within approximately Ift. of the soil surface. They are then lifted

and transplanted to the permanent position in the plantation area. This method has been adopted with considerable success by a farmer in the Ohura district. In this way plantations have come to the feeding-off stage in two years from the time of transplanting to the permanent site. This farmer is also increasing his plantation areas each year. As soon as the nursery is empty it is again planted with seedlings from Whangarei. The highest cost in establishing plantations is the fencing of the areas. Fences should be of a permanent nature and absolutely stock-proof. Some preparation should always be made for the plants in the winter before planting out. This should consist of spitting the holes and loosening the soil to allow weathering and aeration. Planted 6ft apart each way, it takes approximately 1000 plants io cover an acre. Fig. 1 shows pampas plants in a nursery bed. Plants average between three and four feet in height, and have been in the nursery for seven months. Fig. 2 shows a plantation of pampas grass eight months after transplant-

ing from the nursery. Plants average between four and five feet in height. Fig. 3 shows a plantation on hill country eight months after feedingoff. In that time the bushes have made between five and six feet of growth. Pig. 4 shows the same area from a different angle. The farmer has re- , moved most of the flower heads from the bushes. Fig. 5 shows a . plantation 3J years old and ready to feed off this winter. At the time of photographing the bushes were just coming into flower head. Feeding of Pampas Where plantations, are established at long distances from the farm headquarters, it may not be possible to give cattle short periods on the feed each day. : In these circumstances the general practice is to fence in breaks as for swede crops, and so eke out the feed in this way. On the other hand, if plantations are handy to the homestead cattle' can be given half to one hour or more on the areas each day. In conclusion, it may be stated that

just as much care should be exercised

in establishing pampas grass as is given

Other crops, for, with care and attention,''its success is a certainty. Perhaps in this district the time between the establishing and feeding-off stages is longer than in some of . the warmer

districts, but the gain in the end is well worth waiting for. It is to be hoped that the success of individual farmers will inspire others to start plantations, and so indirectly

help to keep down secondary growth on the country in question.

—J. M. HOPKINS, Instructor in Agriculture, Taumarunui.