A GLYCERIA AQUATIC A STAND

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 2, 15 August 1950, Page 116

A GLYCERIA AQUATIC A STAND

THE area was originally a swamp covered with niggerhead and raupo. During the autumn of 1932, 51b. of ceria aquatica seed was sown on the area, but germination was exceedmely poor, on a dozen or so plants establishing. From these plants cuttings were taken and transplanted durmg summer and autumn, and m about 5 years the stand had been established over the whole area. In a few more years the swamp which had been virtually a death-trap for cattle was rapidly converted into a safe, summer grazing area. Run cattle or dairy cows graze the area from January until a flood comes, generally in May or June, and silt is deposited on the leaf, spoiling it for grazing Carrying Capacity ’ r x \ • , ' . , , The 18-acre stand is bounded by 35 acres of good pasture and the 53 acres has maintained 110 cows in good production for 6 weeks during dry periods. In recent years the dairy

herd has been reduced, but the area still maintains 75 cows in full production and in addition up to 40 bullocks depend on it for feed, This experience illustrates an important point in the relationship between soil and plant. The common practice is to adjust soil conditions so that they will permit specific plants to grow. In this case the so has not been changed, but a particular plant that is adapted to the existing soil conditions has been used to considerable advantage. „ . Glyceria aquatica is often a serious weed m drainage areas and should not be planted where there is danger of ds blocking drams m any part of a drainage system. In this instance it is fulfilling a very useful purpose by turning an isolated swamp into valuable g razing land. -

K. M. MONTGOMERY,

Fields Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Te Kuiti.