RURAL RIDES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20180, 7 March 1931, Page 6

RURAL RIDES.

/ . SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER. SOME DEFINITE SUCCESSES. No. XXIII. —— (B'v H.A M.) £Sijice' tho publication a couple ot years ago in The- Press of articles on tho value of subterranean clover on light to medium soils in Australia a steadily increasing interest in the plant has been developed. There i 3 a wide scope of light land on the Plains that would tremendously increase production if a plant of some permanence could bo established, and so render: unnecessary the practice of periodical cultivations for the renewal of the grass. There are enterprising farmers in one or two districts who are giving, the plant a thorough "try-out." So far they are agreed that its use under the conditions mentioned opens up great possibilities fot increased' stock carrying. - At the invitation of Air E. Butt, I of Hororata, who has a wide experience of the growing ol legumes in Marlborough, the writer, accompanied by Mr Butt, yesterday had a look around some stands of subterranean in the Hororata district. A few of the istands had not lonnc been established, but others were definitely in operation, and successfully. In a small plot on the ground of the Sehvyn County 1 Council, Mr Butt has established i a variety which he hybrid- . , ised when in Marlborough. The | I top growth is similar to cowgrass, with which the ordinary variety , of subterranean was crossed. It has a wonderfully beary leafage, and at present averages un to a foot in , length, but it has the spreading habit of tho subterranean, a similar small white flower, and its process of reseeding is identical. The variety is tho result of 13 years' experimentation. An instance of its prolific growth and virility in the winter was quoted by Mr Butt, in which a Marlborough farmer carried seven ewes to the acre through the winter on land which previously carried one sheep on dnnthonia. ' Subterranean clover has an "off" season fpr about three months from January tc>' March, *. but its 'winter Erowth far more than compensates for this holiday. • ' Around .tho Tarms. Mr> T. " Jarman' has sown several paddocks with the clover. On one, in September last, he broadcasted 21b of : toed, applying a bag of super. A good •growth of white clover, now covers the' paddock, but closer inspection shows i the subterranean firmly rooted and developing its spreading habit. The new clover, judging from tho history of the 1 plant, may be expected to supplant its rival when it has passed through a. season .of se-seeding.... , , • - - ■ 'A rather more 'apparent illustration was provided on a turnip field ploughed 1 out of the tussock and eqjEn last\De^ comber. Only about lib to the i acre of subterranean was sown, , but the "strike" was a good' one, 1 and tho clover is well r through the ground. When the turnips are ready for feeding off, tho clover will be* far i enough advanced' >to provide some | 'assistance. It is not-judicious to graze I it too heavily.in tho earlier stages, but . during the prooees.the re-seeding operdr i tion is not impeded; ■ ' ' Mr Jarman's extensive farm of 80Q0 j odd acres comprises .land of a .light 1

in any case without such , a demoastrfr- i tion as that at Mr Derrett's.' . Its singular | habit of sending-out its branches aadi depositing its seed where, opportunity | offers is indicative of its seeding en- i thusiasm. It is believed that Mr Der-; rett's seed crop is the first harvested in a commercial way in Canterbury. It will be shelled shortly, and much interest attaches to the weight, that will be produced. In the meantime the Btand is re-seeding vigorously. . Another field of six acres, on whi«h 21b of subterranean were sown in December is now & mass of ? white with the . blossom of the yarrah so dense that a superficial observation would suggest that there is room 1 for nothing else. ever the clover has come up strongly, and Mr Derrett is confident after his other experience, that in a few* months.the clover will)have completely ousted the weed. His eventual programme is to plant 80 acres in subterranean. . Unfortunately lack of time prevented a visit to the stands of several other growers in the district, notably those of Messrs W. Stone (Woodlands), D. W. "Westenra (Te Perita), and 0. Vincent (Horarata). It is hoped to repair this omission later on ■ in the season, when the plant will have got over its "off-season," and started on its winter work.' . _ The Turnip Crops. The growth that has developed in the turnip crops since the rains set. ih lias been remarkable, and from appearing more or' less a failure six weeks ago, they are now bearing a particularly healthy appearance. It is possible that the delay in sowing some of . them on account of the cLry weather may not provide the feeding tho top growth gives promise of. However, there is a good showing of both turnips and rape in the Darfleld, Sheffield,' Waddington, Hororata, and Greendale districts.