FLUSH OF GRASS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 38, 10 April 1942, Page 5

FLUSH OF GRASS

VERDURE ON THE PLAINS

TOO' LATE FOR SEASON

As a result of the warm; d'rizzle which has been characteristic of recent weeks, pastures an the Plains have made a phenomenal growth. The rain has so far been sufficient only moisten a few Inches of top-soil leaving the sub-soil still dry and warm. Something in the nature of a hot-bed< is thus produced. Old timers have been heard to say that they have never known the grass (particularly rcccntly sown paddocks) to come away so 1 rapidly. The sudden and uniform shooting of rye and clover seeds throughout all pastures is general, wherever such have' been allowed to throw op seed heads. On the drier areas where a few weeks ago all was brown, an even sward of green now greets the eye and in some cases where it had been anticipated that a complete re-soiw-ing would be necesssry, this volunteer growth has saved the situation. Welcome as the growth which gives promise of ample winter feed is, it can have little effect upon production for the remainder of the season. It is definitely too late for any substantial increases tci be hoped for. Nevertheless as a makeweight in the annual off-season lunch in the sweating room in the bank, a continuation of output at the present level for a little longer will be definitelv useful.