GRASS – COMMERCIALLY CONSIUERED

Hokitika Guardian, 2 June 1920, Page 4

GRASS - COMMERCIALLY CONSIUERED

(Paper by Mr W. J. Butler, read at Westland Chamber of Commerce.)

At a recent public meeting, called for the purpose of'discussing the advisability of establishing, a Progress 1 .Hague, whereat the utility of this Clumber was questioned, and South Westland settler stated that the good offices of the Chamber of Commerce were confined to practically one industry. It would therefore seem that it would not be inappropriate for a sawmillcr to enlist the sympathy of this Chamber towards any subject that might bo of interest to the Pastoral Industry.

Tt has always appeared to the write 1 that though pustoralists have given great attention to the breeding of cattle and sheep, and to the selection of breeds to suit the different branches ef the industry in which it is intended such cattle or sheep should be used comparatively little attention lias been devoted to the selection or improvement of grasses or fodder plants. The average grazier is not so .well versed as one might reasonably expect in the subject of fodder plants or ti e adaptability of an y particular kind to the conditions under-which such grader desires to cultivate and use them. Nor is the lack of interest confined to the individual grazier. It is a noticeable fact that while the selection and breeding of cattle and -sheep receives great stimulus at the hands of agricultural and pastoral societies, by means of prizes, one rarely if ever hears of prizes for grass plants.

It is safe to say that the improvements in stock that have been effected by selective breeding have been the result of infinitely greater efforts than would be necessary to effect, similar improvement in our grasses. Dr Cockayne has asserted that it is an erroneous idea to suppose that in seeking to improve our grasses it would be necessary to enter upon any elaborate scheme of hybridization of fertilisation. Nature lias already done a lot of this work, and is always producing varieties embracing varying combinations of most of the characteristics of the different kinds of grasses.

So that it is probable that the shortest cut to improved grasses would he by a process of selection of plants from our existing pastures, and the cultivation of those specimens showing the best combination of the most desirable characteristics.

As showing what may lie done by a process of selection and cultivation, it would be well to quote some of the results of Dr Knapp’s “Corn Club.” This was a club of boys formed under the direction of Dr Knapp in the United States. In 1909 in Holmes Country, Miss., the boys corn club produced crops averaging 76 bushels of corn per acre. The corn grown by their fathers and neighbours averaged about 16 bushels. In the year 1910 there were enrolled ; n the various states 46,225 boys. In 1911 the membership rose to 56,840. At that time the record crop was raised by a boy named Jerry Moore who tonic 228',- bushels off one acre. The three best commercial records are : 212} bushels at a cost of about 4}d per bushel, 227 bushels at 7d., and 214 bushels at about 7Jd. With the object of fostering .-ome such interest in the direction of grasses among West Coast school boys the writer submitted a. suggestion to Mr Mc'Gnskill (School Inspector), and Mr G. 8. Ridley (Agricultural Instructor), embodying the formation of a “Grass Club’’ and promising £lO as the nucleus of a prize fund. Messrs MeCaslcill and Ridley have compiled a schedule of competitions to he shortly submitted to the State School hoys. Subsequent to the above, the writer had an opnortirnitv of interviewing the Pastoral Commission (which' is now engaged in investigating the higher altitude pastures of Otago and Canterbury - ) and suggested the formation of a Dominion (Mss Club. The suggestion

was favourably received, Dr Cockayne explaining that they had intended requesting the Education Department to give more attention to pastoral education and he recognised that the suggested c lnb would fit in immensely with Mb ideas on tb© subpeot. The subject will be submitted to the Pastoral Commission in a formal manner and will then bo fully considered. The object ef this paper is to enlist the assistance of this Chamber in fostering a greater interest in the plant life which forms th© foundation of our pastoral industry; and to indicate to the settlers of Westland that only by some such organised means can their pastures bo made as prolific as should bo. 1