DOUBLE SOWING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4435, 3 July 1922, Page 2

DOUBLE SOWING.

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. MAIZE AND PRAIRIE GRASS SUCCESSFUL ON THE PLAINS. . Success witli a very interesting cropping experiment has been attained by Mr. T. McClean, of Ngatea, who, last spring, planted a portion of his property with maize seed mixed, with an equal amount of, prairie; grass seed,. The maize has since grown and been cut down, leaving a good growth of prairie grass fpr winter feed. Mr. McClean asserts that: the method will be a big thing for th a Plains, though he appears to be sceptical regarding its success on the poorer land. Early in/ October Mr. McClean plbughed 12 acres, and a mouth later, early in November, he sowed broadcast the, maize and pr,airie grass seed mixed in equal quantities, one bushel; of each to the acre. It was later dis- 1 covered that it was better to sow the different seeds separately, as the prairie grass seed, being lighter than the other, separated from the maize. The maize and the prairie grass grew we 1 !, tlhe latter going to seed. The stock was turned into the paddock and eat the maize, at the same time trampling the prairie grass in. The .ground was quite bare when the stock was taken off that paddock. Between 70 and 80 cows had beep on four acres during February. About a fortnight later the prairie grass was seen to be growing once more. During the first week in Declember Mr. McClean had another 14' acres prepared and seed put in. This time the different seed was sown broadcast separately. The ground was: .then disced twice. In this section of land the grass was also a success in the. dry portions. The biggest difficulty is where the ground is wet. On part ef the 14 acres there is a depth of one. foot of peat. It is an ideal thing flor the Hauraki Plains, commented Mr. McClean. It •s a greater success .than he had at first anticipated’, and it saved an additional planting. His cows wtere doing very well on the prairie grass arid were looking extremely Settlers would do well to adopt Mr. McClean’s experiment—in fact a number have already tried it successfully'and among 'others Mr. R- Burke has had good results. Even on rough, stumpy ground it should do well, but poor soil could not, perhaps, carry a double crop.