The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. THURSDAY, MAY, 27, 1915. PASPALUM GRASS FOR FODDER

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1915, Page 2

The Chronicle PUBLISHED DAILY. LEVIN. THURSDAY, MAY, 27, 1915. PASPALUM GRASS FOR FODDER

Three years ago The Chronicle had some remarks, editorially, on the overestimation. of paspalum grass as a fodder. The discussion evoked some iocal criticism pro and contra on the use of this grass plant, but the preponderof local experiments went to show the truth of our contention that after the first season the grass becomes very coarse, and its roots obtain so deep a hold that the plant becomes almost ineradicable. iXone the less, there are conditions of climate in some districts, and sporadic fields in all, that make the use of paspalunn grass desirable in cerain places. For the benefit of those of our readers whose farms may answer to one or other of the description here given, we reprint (from the New Zealand Agricultural Journal) a descriptive article concerning some experiments conducted at Karangahake by Mr H. J. - amilton for (benefit of the Agricultural [Department. The writer says:—Some years ago my attention was drawn to paspaluun. I determined to give it a trial in this country under some ordinary and some extraordinary conditions. In each case 1 sowed some rye with it as a. check. ]

The grass was sown under the following conditions: — (1.) In a low-lying swamp, which was flooded for some time, and could be kept flooded for six months.

(2.) In a swamp, which flooded for a month at a time, but never for longer than six weeks.

(3.) In among rank toetoe, wliieh was at the time strong and vigorous.

(4.) On a, burn on a dry hillside iu the beginning of January.

(5.) In among pennyroyal lft. high

((5.) On rushy and swampy ground, which was always soft.

(7.) In a well-tilled, well-manured piece ot river-flat.

(8.) On a well-cultivated but dry hilltop.

1.) This was sown in dry weather, and canie up and grew quiickly. It was 4in<- high in five weeks. It was eaten down audi continued to do well till winter. Then the water came over it. It still looked well after three weeiks. I then closed the outlet and left it under water for six month, at the end of which time it was dead. It has not shown up since.

(2). This germinated well and made a good growth. It has been under water for a month at a time, but is still strong and vigorous. It is relished by cattle and throws a large quantity of seed. The rye died that first season.

(3). In this case I could not find any sign of the paspalum for nearly two years; then it began to show up.

I cannot say it has killed the toetoe, but it has made considerable progress against it, and seems to be more than holding its own. The rye did not appeal- at all. Some cocksfoot also failed to make a showing.

(4). This seed lay dormant and apparently dead till early autumn; then it began to shoot, and before winter tHe whole face of the hill was covered with thick growth. The grass is still there and throws a good amount of feed.

(5). When the pennroyal died down the paspalum-plants were to be seen in hundreds, and before next summer the ground was covered with 6ucli a mat that the pennyroyal died away altogether.

(6). The paspalum germinated' and continues to grow. The bigger bunches' seem to hold it in cheok, but it

spread over the intervening spaces giving a good supply of herbage under conditions which few grasses would stand. The ground is ivet and spongy and must be very sour, for it is never dry. Yet the 'paspalum grows and spreads, a sure indication of its great vitality.

(7). Here the paspalum did splendidly. Jt throws an enormous amount ol feed in late' spring, summer and autumn. . It has long since killed out all other grasses and has formed one compact mat, which would be very difficult'to plough or to bring into cultivation.

(8). Here the grass germinated fairly well and grew slowly. It did not at first throw as mucli feed as rye or cocksfoot, but after the third' year it did better than these grasses. It did not, however, grow nearly as well as that on the' rich alluvial flat or as that on the damp swamp land, but it did fairly well and has outlasted all the other grasses except danthonia, brown-top, cocksfoot and white clover.

The .results of my experiments may be summarized as follows: Paspalnm grows under a greater variety of conditions than most grasses. It will remain under water for weeks and will resist drought for months. It may, however, be shut up in .February. It will then grow to a height of 2ft. or more, and will make excellent winter feed for fattening or dairying. Cows milk as well on pasaplum as 011 rye and much better than on cocksfoot. It does better than most grasses on poor land, and its feeding value is high. It taikes possession of rich river fiats and should not be sown extensively in good land. It germinates best if sown in January or February. If sown in the late autumn very little of it is ever seen. It is an excellent grass for rough hilly country, and 1 should be sown extensively in busli burns on billy country that cannot be ploughed. If this is done, however, some of the paddocks should be shut up for winter feed. In N»rth Auckland it grows for about eight months of the year.