SPRINGBURN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3564, 26 September 1916, Page 7

SPRINGBURN.

Spring Weather

Spring : :< hero with a vengeance. Thj thermometer on Saturday showed 70 in the shade. The trees have burst into leaf, and ihe birds are arranging their summer- homes Winter Grasses. Very intcrestint', observations of {Trasses havo been conducted at the Springburn School, and at Mr D. Syme's place, to determine if any grar-ses continue growing during tne winter. No special experiments were undertaken, tho grasses being observed in their natural surroundings. It was found that Italian rye, especially, and ryegrass generally, made growth during the winter. In sholtercd places cocksfoot also made growth but one grass was found to grow splendidly; although on ten greedily by tho cattle, it continued growing rapidly right through tli3 winter. It seems to be a cross between prairio grass and Italian rye; but it has not yet been determined to what species it belongs. A specimen ha 3. however, been sent to an authority in Chr.istchurch to nnally fix its place. , The Nor-westers. Old residents tell mo that the ncr Iwoators are dying away year by year. A ; gentleman*who has studied .theminforms m<; that, in bis opinion, thebelts of -shelter- trees break up these winds as they leuvo the mountains. It might also be the case 'that the^ de'struetion of (tie forests on the West Coast affects the cast coafit plains more than we dunk. Introduced Trees. A visit to any mountain gorge convinces any close observer of Nature that tho Introduced trees are gradually establish".!!!?: themselves among the native:}. English hifch, willow, and poplars a,i'o now 1 to b<.> seen, and \n sonw placcvs WelLingtonians. The Cows and Sheep. Generally speaking, the cattle have wintered well, and tha calves are exceptionally fine. Tho lambs al:so ap pear to be stronger this year than usual. There is every appearance of ;i good sumiQCi-.