SUB. CLOVER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 178, 14 August 1937, Page 19

SUB. CLOVER

Romney Breeder Discusses Use in H.B. LESS LAMBING TROUBLE Ewes which - last spason lambed (in subterranean clover gave less-troubie than any of the others, said Mr. W. A. Tod, of "Hollycombe," Otane, in 1 the course of an a'ddress to members of the 'Waiptikurau branch of the Earmers' Union. ; ' "I first sowed sub. -clover six years ago and have now 100 aeres," eafd Mr. Tod. "I sowed "four lbs. per acre on March 9 and the. following -March !I top-dressed'it ' with a bag of super to the acre. It was not top-dressed again until this autumn and the paddock is just a mat of sub. At present I have more f eed • on the sub. clover paddoeks :than on any of the others. . I have alsjo a very wet paddock and the sub. clqver in it is just as good .as. that in the . drier . paddoeks, . "Sub. clover seems. to . .gTOw fairly well in the winter," ^continued Mr. Tod. "What I like about it is that it puts a lustre on the wool better than anything else that I have tried^. In the spring it will carry a very heavy stocking. Its disadvantage is 'that as' soon as the hot weather comes it seems fo ' disappear in a few days and,' fof that reasons, I would not sow it on good land. . "Another disadvantage I have discovered is that thq seedpods are stieking in the wool this year and I ara sure it will have the effect of reducing the price of the wool. I am of the opinion that this is caused through the long spell of dry weather in the autumn and the seed not germinating. It is the first time that I have hoticed it in the wool. Some of the sheep .that - have- -been rollirrg' aro sm'othered'in it. A f urther 1 disadvantage 'is' tha!t, in a, -growthy spring," the lea'ves of thecloveir" holdr a drop of water in the hollow anh this will cause scald and, so . f oot-rot, ' ' he added^