OUR PASTURES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 608, 15 February 1921, Page 6

OUR PASTURES.

NECESSITY FOR GRAZING

Very few farmers realise what a deep influence grazing has upon our pastures. It approximates the truth to say that the majority of the pastures in this country owe their very existence to .grazing animals. If our pastures were left ungrazed for any considerable time they would gradually change to other types of vegetation. According to the local soil and climatic conditions some would revert to shrub, others to heath, and others still/swamp or bog vegetation. The observant farmer will know that this is not merely theory, for unfortunately there are only too many instances of the progress of these types of changes taking place on neglected farms in different parts of the country. For instance, it would be interesting to know definitely how many acres of pasture in the Auckland province alone have passed into tea tree scrub during the past ten years. And in how many instances has pasture been displaced by fern heath. Instances such as these simply serve, to emphasise the need of paying close attention to the management of pastures. The whole matter is not at all a simple one. The influences of different methods of grazing must be considered in respect not only to the welfare of the pastures but also to the welfare of the animals. In addition, apart from the relative welfare of both animals and plants, the respective costs of different methods must, of course, receive full codsideration.