GRASSING PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 88, 8 January 1919, Page 8

GRASSING PROBLEMS

-The importance of grassland to New '• Zealand- agriculture.and. to tho country :' as a wholei has" full' recognition by :bbth farmers and 6tudents of agrostology, remarks Dr.' A. H. Cockayne in the :■'Journal of Agriculture.", Such being the case, one jg naturally astonished at' the dearth of. literature both on the 6cience and practice of our grassland production and management: "Until ■ recency all .textbooks on the subject were of foreign origin, and in many particulars were quite ■unsuited for New,- Zealand, requirement. This peculiar position in a country where grassland is all-important' Dr. Cockayne sets out the chief ''grass" problems as follow:— The profitable increase in production • of the tussock grasslands. ■ The , substitution, of long-rotation for;. 6hort-rotation grassland on light arable lands. , ~,. . '■ •. '„'"'■ "The control of succession on the suriaceeown grasslands. The increasing of .permanent clovers on long-rotition and permanent pasture, The profitable grassing of the soils of the central volcanic plateau. The profitable grassing of gum-land, , heaths. '.. ■ • . . ■ The permanent grassing or inferior ewamp and peat lands. ' ■ ' . . The economic position of pn3palum and its proper management. ' ■