PASPALUM IN WINTER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5151, 13 July 1927, Page 1

PASPALUM IN WINTER.

EXPERIENCE AT NETHERTON.

CONDITIONS ON T. VOWLBS’ FARM

At various times the growing of paspalum grass by Hauraki Plains farmers has been advocated by this paper, and during the past month or so, .when farms have shown signs of pugging up on account of the wet weather, several inquiries have been received concerning this form of pasture, particularly as to its growth on the Plains during the winter months. With tile idea of getting first-hand information, a visit was paid to Mr. T. Vowles’ farm at. Netherton last week. This farm is not a model one ; it is not an exceptionally good one, but is just such a farm as ma.ny on the Plains, with the exception that it is in the paspalum area and some of the paddocks have been in this pasture for 18 years. Eighty-seven head of cattle and two horses have been carried through the winter, and all are in tip-top condition and have plenty of feed. The soil is of, a heavy nature, and there is little natural drainage, as is demonstrated by the wfl-ter. lying near the banks of good drains* as on other parts of the Plains. Although part of the farm was planted with paspalum 18 years ago and has not been ploughed, it is. not root-bound and could be ploughed with three horses in a single-furrow plough.. There is more English grass in these paddocks, while on those portions of the farm which were grassed ten years ago with 21b of paspalum in 401 b of other pasture seeds, there is less than 20 per cent, of paspalum at present. Naturally, the fields vary In appearance according to the recent treatment. Those which were mown for. hay last summer have a smooth sward, while in others there are clumps, of dry paspalum grass, patches of short paspalum, and patches of English grasses and clovers, but all through the paspalum, long and short, there is clover and other grass;es ready to shoot away as soon as. the growing season commences. Paspalum does not crowd out other grasses, for even in the densest patches a good growth is anticipated next, month. At the present time there is no growth in the paspalum, and little is expected before November. It does not grow well in a wet spring, and, well-drained land is necessary to get the best results, although flooding will not kill it and it will grow right to the edge of stagnant water where water grasses have replaced .all other pastures. Paspalum will stand a lot of heavy tramping by stock, although heavy pugging will destroy it. When firmly established it forms a splendid carpet in lanes and gateways, and for this purpose paspalum should be generally adopted, for the. seed will then be spread lightly all over, the farm by the animal droppings.

Mr Vowles has tried planting in the spring and in the autumn* and has found autumn the best at Netherton, although there is little show the first season. He advocates the last week in March if the weather is favourable and the soil clean and in good condition. Top-dressing is advisable to promote a vigorous growth of other grasses as well as paspalum, and where manuring, is not. done the percentage of paspalum will increase. Mr Vowles has found that a top-dress-ing of 2cwt of basic slag, followed in the succeeding year by 2cwt of basic super gives very satisfactory results. A large hay crop is assured, two and a half tons to the acre being a low average. It should be stacked rather greener tha.n other grases. Particular notice was taken to see if the paspalum crowded out other grasses and clovers, and a,n orchard was pointed out {where the pasture was never grazed. Here the dry paspalum was up to the fence-top, but all through it there' was a dense growth of other grasses. Throughout the farm clovers and grasses could be found in the densest: paspalum, while under a row of bluecgum trees, for some peculiar reasons;, there was no paspalum whatever, 'but a good growth of other pastures.

The absence of rushes bn the farm was noted, and it was Learned that rushes cannot live through paspalum which will also crowd put blackberries in time if they are given a little cutting. A-pasture, -of paspalum alone will spread through -and replace big clumps of blackberry.Mr Vowles was not to give comparative figures of but: ter-fat returns, but he was of opinion that a paddock of paspalum equal to a paddock of turnips, and! on being informed that many Plains farmers were inquiring abo.ut the , merits of the grass he offered to shqw anyone round and discuss the subject with them. He contended that during August he could demonstrate that paspalum had no detrimental effect on the growth of other grasses, but was rather of assistance: at that time..

The impression gained by the inspection of .Mr Vowles* farm was that while it was not the best loooking, or the best tended, it was to be preferred to most <j-f the farms on the Hauraki Plains.