Experimental Grass Plots At Awakeri Examined

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 43, 4 May 1948, Page 3

Experimental Grass Plots At Awakeri Examined

A large group of Y.F.C. members and a few farmers attended a field day on the property of Mr A. B. Barr and Son, Awakeri, on Tuesday to examine the 96 experimental plots laid ■in different species and strains of species of grass and clover, planted at varying densities. Planted on April 10 and 11, in what is known as the Awakeri gravell ey sand type of soil, the White Clover in the mixture failed to mature and the Italian Rye failed after one year. This failure of the Italian Rye was thought to be due to the lack of White Clover, so important for the successful growth of many grasses.

Before ithe sowing of the experimental plotsthe paddock was laid in lucerne which, however, failed on account of bad flooding; then in carrots for two years and'finally in onions and soft turnips, topdressed with the standard weights of fertiliser to the acre, but with an additional dressing of blood and bone and two dressings of potash. The plots were. sown with the intention of determining the correct seed mixture that farmers should use in laying new pastures.