N.Z. GRASSLAND FARMING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1932, Page 6

N.Z. GRASSLAND FARMING

A HIGH PRACTICAL OUTLINE

USEFUL BOOK FOR FARMERS,

New Zealand, like a number of the ■Empire’s primary producing countries, is almost entirely dependent on exports of the land for her very existence, and in common with these countries she is depending on her grassland for the bulk of her exports. The Empire Marketing Board, which has rendered yeomen service in agricultural' research in the (Empire, has been largely responsible for the growing realisation of the importance of pastures, and grassland management, in the economic life of the Empire. Remembering the almost complete dependence of New Zealand on* her pastures, it is extraordinary to think that, up till the present, not one volume ha s been published, giving the practical side of grassland management work in the Dominion. This defect has now been made good by the publication of “Grassland Farming in New Zealand,” written by C. Burnard, Associate Editor of the “New Zealand Dairy Produce Exporter.” Mr Burnard’s work is widely known to farmers in New Zealand, for prior to his joining the “Dairy Exporter,” he was writing* extensively for newspapers and fanning journals in New Zealand and Australia, and be is one of the very few agricultural writers in New Zealand who has had extensive practical experience of farming. “Grassland Farming in New Zealand” is essentially a book for the practical farmer, and while it deals briefly with the theories underlying our present system of grassland management, its main purpose has been apparently, to provide farmers with an outline of what has been accomplished so far in New Zealand, and some suggestions as to the methods that are likely to prove profitable in practice This purpose has been admirably achieved, the text has been kept down to a minimum, and halt been written in a readable style that should appeal to the man on the land. The book carries a foreword by Mr A. H. Cockayne, Assistant DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, which alone is sufficient endorsement of the soundness of the views expressed. It is a well recognised fact that in the small band of grassland research workers in the British Empire, Mr Cockayne rank s very high indeed, and overseas authorities ■have several times suggested that the work being done in New Zealand is equal to anything being accomplished in any country. Mr Cockayne draws particular attention to the possibilities of strain in grasses and clovers, from the viewpoint of further increasing our production, and draws attention in a string wgy., tg future possibilities when he says:— “The production of grass and its elaboration into butterfat, rneaf. and wool, is the main .business of New Zealand. Its significance lies in the fact that the application of past experience, linked with modern scientific conceptions, is capable of rapidly extending this business on a profitable basis, even with a permanence of low prices. During the past few years butterfat production, for instance, has doubled on the same urea of mini, and there is no reason why a re-doubling or more of productim should not take place equally rapidly by the general adoption of those practices involved in what can be conveniently termed modern grassland management. In probably no other country in the world at;e are essential factors concerned with increasing production from grassland being given greater consideration than in New Zealand. However, we have still a long way to travel before that consideration becomes a complete practical actuality, when it is borne ill mind that in the case of butterfat our average production is well under 1001 b. per acre, while farm s that are carrying out modern practice on an intensive scale are regularly reaching a figure of 2501 b. per acre, or better.” “The development of high-yielding leafy strains of grasses and clovers, capable of withstanding close grazing, topdressing, surface cultivation, grazing of herbage at its highest nutritive point, the conservation of all surplus growth

herd testing and rational methods of disease control, are the paramount factors leading to increased per acre pro-

duction. None of the factors have as yet generally been exploited beyond what one may term their initial stage, and ijt is the duty of New Zealand's grassland farming to incorporate them all to tilt; fullest extent in our future

practice. On their skilful manipulation and development largely depends the future of New Zealand, and such being the case, publications such a s this one

'which has been prepared by the "Dairy Exporter,” dealing from the practical

and “experience” viewpoint of the position as it has developed up to the present time are of significant value.’ Effective grassland management in New Zealand demands great attention to fertilisers, and h is phosphatic manuring that- hu-s made possible the tremendous increase in production that have been such a feature of the past decade. Mr Burnard details very cicar)y the effect of various systems of management, and shows that phospliatic manuring alone wall almost invariably give increases of considerable magnitude, ■which makes their use highly profitable. IHis opinion is, that under the conditions existing in most parts of New Zealand, superphosphate has proved the most useful and profitable fertiliser, and he suggests that scientifically accurate trials of •superphosphate and basic .slag, on the lines of the Department's woilknown Marten experiments, should he carried out irt Taranaki, to see whether the widespread use of slag is economical ly souwM

There is great diversity of opinion in New Zeaand at the moment as to j the effiieno.y of nitrations fertilisers i under out conditions. This aspect of I grassland management is well handled | and the practical experiences cm a j number of highly successful intensively j managed farm s are quoted. Probably I the most useful portion of tbe book to | the average farmer will be the chapter dealing with practical examples of diflercnt types of grassland and management in a number ol districts. The author makes it clear that there is no I one hard and fast system which is applicable to the whole of New Zealand, I and that the development of intcii \e management, and consequent increasing of production must depend on a j number of factors such as soil, climate, and last, but by means least, finance. This book can certainly be recommended to every thinking farmer, for it is essentially practical. Changes in farming methods come about very slowly in most countries, and the remarkable production increases registered in New Zealand during recent years have no parallel. They are proof positive of the willingness of New Zealand farmers to adopt new ideas and adapt their system of farming along those* lines which have been proved profitable. ft is through reading of the' experiences of others that progress ban In* made most rapidly, and for that reason a hook of this nature should make a universal appeal.