FARM NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 123, 14 February 1940, Page 7

FARM NOTES

FARM PRODUCTION STATEMENT SURFACE SOWING Contributed by C. R. Taylor, Local Organiser, Eastern liny of Plenty Primary Production Council, Dept. of Agriculture, Wliakatanc. Jn addition L<; the grass and clover seed which is sown on areas after the preparation of a seed-bed there i|s a large quantity of isccd surface sown every year cither after a light cultivation or after no cultivation. Clovers such as .subterranean clover and Lotus major, grasses such as pas pal.um, and mixtures for bush and secondary growth burns are the main seeds sown in this way. Lotus major and paspalum are usually spring sown on the areas for which tyhey are suitable. In districts with a reliable rainfall, some success has been achieved in bringing back good swards by tlie surface sowing of a seeds mixaure on run-out pastures following a harrowing -with a drastic type of harrow. A mixture used successfully with a certified permanent pasture ryegrass.. I3lb of crested dogstail, 1 to 21b of certified white clover, yibs red clover to the acre. A light harrowing follows the sowing and then a rolling or consolidation by sheep to firm the surface, results '.in a quicker strike. Early autumn reseeding is generally favoured. Superphosphate or other suitable fertiliser should be applied at time of seeding at Wie rate of 3cwts per acre. On secondary growth country manuka should be cut in the late spring and summer so as to be ready for burning in tihe early autumn. Where rain may be expected in February, burning and sowing of seed in January gives good results. Where autumn rains arc doubtful, burning and sowing in late autumn will give best results, but sowing should not be too late to allow clover establishment. Bracken fern grows mainly from October to February, so it should not be burnt till March. Spraying of hard fern with arsenie pentoxide solution should be done ac any time from November to March but preferably in January. The area may then be burnt and sown in early or late autumn whenever weather conditions are suitable. All seed mixtures for secondary growth burns should contain i to 21b of certified white clover as well as either Lotus major in wet areas or subterranean clover in drier districts.

The surface broadcasting of subterranean clovcr seed at the rate of 2 to 51b per acre together with a topdressing of IV2 to •iewt of superphosphate is being used as a means of regeneration and improvement of a considerable amount of light land and dry hill country especially on the east coast where soils and climatic conditions favour the growth of this clover. Sowing in late summer or early autumn is favoured, hut climatic conditions often prevent sowing tilal late autumn. Opportunity must! be given for the clover to establish thoroughly before frosts begin in the winter. A certain amount of rough growth affords cover for the establishment of the clover and prevents too much seed from being taken by birds. A quick method for the sowing of subterranean clover on hill country is to sow from horse-back, using an agile pony. Very promising results have been secured experimentally with the above method 011 the high hill country east of Opotiki even where no topdressing has been used and where, under existing conditions, pastures are wholly lacking in any form of clover growth.