GRASS GRON ON SOUR SOILS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 431, 17 January 1912, Page 3

GRASS GRON ON SOUR SOILS.

It is well known that grass grown on sour soils does not possess such nourishing qualities as grass from good soils. But this is not the only drawback to the use of such grass. According to the experiments carried out by Professor Holy of the Agricultural Institute at Halle, such sour grass and the hay made from it prodcues in ihe animals eating it, and especially cattle, an flammation of the mucous membranes of the digestive organs. This effect is caused by the sharp edges of the sour grass, which keep the animals' stomachs in a continual state of irritation. Even when mixed with other rations, the hay from sour soil has been found to exercise the same ill effect, and the concentrated food stuffs added to the hay to increase the albuminoids are, in consequence of the disturbed digestion of the animals, passed out to a great extent in an undigested condition. Many of us know from experience how the sharp edge of coarse grass can cut, and it is not surprising tha such grass, which is only partly digested, can wound the delicate internal surface of the stomach. This shows the necessity of taking steps to improve the quality of the hay by putting the soil in a better condition. Drainage is probably the most needful, and applications of phosphate of lime and potash with a dressing of lime. —Mark Lane Express.