The Akaroa Cocksfoot Crop

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 60, Issue 1, 15 January 1940, Page 37

The Akaroa Cocksfoot Crop

Principal Source of Income To Settlers For Over 60 Years

By

R. McGILLIVRAY,

Fields Superintendent, Christchurch

BANKS Peninsula and cocksfoot can almost be said to be synonymous , terms to many people, and especially to those of the older generation who have grown up with the development of cocksfoot in the Akaroa district. With the clearing of the forest, cocksfoot was sown sometimes pure but more often as a constituent of a pasture; mixture, but in almost all cases cocksfoot soon showed dominance, and the other plants rapidly disappeared from the pasture. Cocksfoot can be said to have been a more or less chance introduction to the district, as its value was not realised at the time of its introduction some 87 years ago. It was in 1852 that the first sowing was made at Pigeon Bay. Further sowings were made as the land was cleared of bush, and by 1865 there was quite a brisk demand for seed both for local sowing and from other parts of New Zealand. It can also be stated that Akaroa cocksfoot was one of the first farm seeds exported from the Dominion, and as time passed the name became widely known throughout this country and also overseas. - , Value to Settlers The introduction of this grass has meant - much to Banks Peninsula settlers, as in the heyday of production more than 120,000 sacks of seed were consigned from the district, and for a long period from 70,000 to 80,000 sacks was looked upon as an ordinary

crop. For many years all the seed except that from Little River was conveyed to Lyttelton by sea, but - with the development .of reading the seaborne traffic in seed has almost disappeared. .?'■.■: - r Of more recent times dairying and sheep have become important phases of farming in the district, and. this has resulted in. seed production taking a much less important place. Moreover, with the ; increased cost ofharvesting on country of this nature, there is likely to be a still further decline in the amount of seed produced. It is interesting to note that in the early handling of the seed crop serious difficulty arose, ■as those at that time interested treated it in a similar

manner to the wheat crop, but in threshing it was found that much of the seed would not leave the heads, and thus growers came to the conclusion that to cut the crop and tie it in sheaves and stack was a mistake. Method of Handling ■ Experience showed that under Peninsula conditions the crop should be cut and left in bundles on the stubble, and as soon as sufficiently dryshould be conveyed to the threshing floor. Under this method, especially in bright, sunny weather, the seed leaves the heads readily. This then became the recognised method for handling the cocksfoot crop of the Peninsula. It should be pointed out that because of the hilly nature of the district the crop is cut with the sickle and threshed either with a small mill or with the flail. The seed is winnowed before bagging, and in many cases an excellent sample is made in this way. It can be understood that under this harvesting method costs are relatively high, but many farmers express the opinion that even with high costs the seed crop, plus winter grazing, is still an attractive proposition in seasons of average yield. This being so, it is held in some districts that the anticipated further decline of the industry may not eventuate for many years to come. Until comparatively recent times seed from the district was sold at its face value, and with a name like “Akaroa,”

which had become almost a household word in the seed trade and among farmers, no great difficulty was experienced in disposing of the crop, but with a view to still further safeguarding the position the Akaroa Cocksfoot Seedgrowers’ Association was formed in 1930. This association works in close co-operation with the Department of Agriculture in operations affecting the certification of the cocksfoot seed produced in the district. Certification Scheme In maintaining and developing a seed industry under present-day conditions it has been amply demonstrated that purchasers require some guarantee as to type, purity, and. germination, and the Department’s certification scheme has proved of distinct benefit to the cocksfoot industry, as it has enabled purchasers of the seed to feel satisfied that they are protected, for it is in their power to demand the standard of purity and germination and origin of the seed before purchase is made.

The certified seed is machine-dressed at the various seed-dressing stations, and if it proves up to the requisite standard it is finally tagged and sealed by officers of the Department of Agriculture. Purchasers of this seed, know that they are buying something with a guarantee behind it, and few farmers today are at all inclined to accept uncertified seed.

Seed production on the Peninsula is definitely governed by weather conditions. For the highest yields good autumn and winter rains are essential. Growers have generally found that with a good autumn growth and the absence of unfavourable weather at flowering time a satisfactory harvest can be expected. This crop is mainly cross-fertilised, and, this being so, there is a greater demand for favourable climatic conditions at flowering time than in the case of crops that are of the self-fertilising type. In some seasons heavy gales accompanied by a high rainfall have been experienced at the flowering period, and if these conditions persist for some days the ultimate yield is generally seriously affected.

There is practically no cultivation on Banks Peninsula, and all types of farming can be designated'pastoral, as the farmers have all their properties under pasture, and the dominance of cocksfoot in most districts is the outstanding feature. Some of these pastures were sown approximately 80 years ago

and are still in production, whether it be under dairying, fattening, or seed. Grazing The grazing of the seed-producing areas during the winter can be carried out successfully and without detriment to the following seed crop as long as the grazing is light and with cows or young stock. , The areas should not be grazed with sheep except, perhaps, for a short period in the early autumn, but sheep should definitely be removed before the usual late autumn growth sets in, as they tend to eat out this growth. The safe grazing period for cows or young cattle can be conjsidered as from May until the end of July. Stocking with cattle at this time does much good in tramping down the dead growth, which forms a mulch

around the roots of the plants and tends to hold the moisture and keep the soil cool during the heat of the summer. In conclusion, it can be said that the cocksfoot seed industry has for more than 60 years been of great importance to the settlers, and at one time was their principal source of income. The district is very different climatically from the -Plains. The rainfall is much better, and the influence of the sea is noticeable in the milder winter climate. On the more sheltered portions there is seldom a cessation of growth, and investigations made in June and July have shown appreciable growth. It is these conditions, plus a fertile soil, that have enabled the seed industry to be conducted in this manner over a long period.

Eradicating Rat-tail Grass

“RAT-TAIL” (HAMILTON):— Will you kindly advise me through the “Journal” what is the best method of eradicating “rat-tail” grass from pastures? It is mainly confined to sidlings, which are ploughable. FIELDS DIVISION:— Where land can be ploughed, no difficulty should be experienced in eradicating rat-tail. The most successful method is to plough the land during January, roll if possible, and leave fallow until end of February or prior to working the land for early March sowing. Care should be taken not to disturb the furrow by having too much set on the discs; the lighter the discing the better.

The whole success of eradication depends on how well the land is ploughed; bad ploughing means an invasion of the pest after a few seasons. Liberal seeding and fertilising is essential for a quick pasture sward establishment, which will completely choke any young rat-tail growth. There is no known method of eradicating rat-tail in pastures where land is unploughable. The pest can be held partly in check by introducing better pasture species, liberal fertilising, and avoiding severe winter and spring grazing.

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