PASPALUM OILATATUM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1625, 17 December 1912, Page 10

PASPALUM OILATATUM.

EXPERT DISCOURAGES SOWING,

The Director of the Fields and Experiments Division.of the Agricultural Department,, replying to a .'query, as to whether it would bo advisable to sow paspalum dilatatuin with swede turnips, ■so as to have- a good solo of gross after the turnips are fed oir, makes the following interesting statement:— "There is no recorded experience as to the result of sowing paspalum dilatatum. There is,, however, no reason why tho seed should not germinate. It is generally accepted that tho turnip or swede is a crop of such value that it should bo maintained free from weeds and other plants.,!!' anything of this sort is atlompt.ed, it should bo that-tho paspalum should bo relied upon'for tho final crop, and that sown with it there may bo a small quantity of rape. It' is also to bD considered- whether, in the present state of information regarding this' plant, paspalum dilatatum should bo accepted as a reasonable grass to use. It is essentially a. grass-: 0f...a hot .country,'and in New Zealand; owing to' climatic conditions, there is so long a period during which this grass-is absolutely dormant that experience 1 would lead to tho conclusion that other ; giasses arc to'be preferred. Tho experience of some years indicates that .paspalum. .dilatatum should bB excluded frohi our farm practice." •