THE SELECTION OF GRASSES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume VII, Issue 244, 1 March 1889, Page 2

THE SELECTION OF GRASSES.

(Sutton's Permanent Pastures.) (Continued.) I propose to describe the grasses | and clovers whioh are sown for per--1 manent pastures and alternate husbandry, stating their relative value, fitness for certain purposes, and such other particulars as will indicate the I sorts and proportk ns to. ;be .used on ) the various soils and under the conditions usually provailing in this country (England). A .-■'__ Agrostis Alba (fiorin or Creeping Bent Grass). — The Agrostis family is generally deficient in nutritive value, but this Variety is an exception, and therefore it has been extensively used in pastures. The plant thrives in a spongy soil which is not firm enough to produce, better herbage, and in land which cannot be drained it will get a living where other grasses peiish In mountainous countries where rain falls frequently and abundantly and the atmosphere is moist it grows freely, as well in light land as on peat. It affords very early feed in spring, but its power of yielding late keep, in autumn is its most remarkable feature. Cattle will only eat it when_. they oan get nothing better, and in wet seasons agrostis will overpower other grasses until its creeping roots beoomt almost as objectionable as

.■■■■l ' in _77 k^--' ;A - !<ir ;'' : ' i __ t _ 4ouch, It is also very exha,u_rf_ng to* lhe soil. A series of rainy summers always creates a demand for it out of ! proportion to it value, and when hot dry years return it is condemned asworthless. Alopecurus (Meadow Foxtail). — Of the many varieties of alopecurus, this is the only one which is used for agricultural purposes, and it is just y regarded as one. of the most important grasses we possess. The great partiality which cattle manifest for i\ and the chemical test alike reveal its high nutritive qualities. It it thoroughly perennial in character, but does not attain its full develope* ment until three or four years after sowing. It is therefore only suited for alternate husbandry when &c ley is to remain down at least three or four years. Even then, according to Sinclair, it is less suited than cocksfoot for temporary pastures, although, more nutritious than that variety* This is, in fact, essentially a landlord's grass, for which he may willing'y contribute in the full assurance that ti.o future of the -pasture wi 1 justify the outlay. Foxtail begins to bloom aboJi* the middle of April; but by the thiru week in May it is practically in full _?ower, and should be cut, for although ripening does not seriously deteriorate th* quality, yet the quantity is greati/ diminished j and if there be a suffioi- ' ent proportion of it in a meadow to warrant early mowing, it is wasteful to allow so palatable and nourishing a grass to be shrivelled up and .lost,, while other varieties are maturing. This necessity for early cutting should, influence the proportion of foxttil^ including a permanent prescription. After taking a crop it is one of the quickest grasses to commence growing, shooting up its green, herbage before other varieties make a start, and in bulk the aftermath frequently exceeds the early growth. Foxtail is remarkable for the. immense quantity of leafy herbage it produces in proportion to tiie quantity of stalk, and this characteristic, alone gives it a high value. And other points being equivalent, a pasture which contains it in abundance will carry stock ten days int advance of a pasture in which it is wanting. These facts have no doubt given birth to the idea that it is peculiarly a pasture grass, but it yields so good a crop, and of Bach excellent quality that it is almost of equal service for mal^ng into hay_ ; It is one of the few grasses that, thrive under trees, and iherefore, it. should be plentifully used in sowing, d >wn orchards and shady .pastures* Sometimes Foxtail is carelessly mistaken for Timoty, but, besides, other differences, the former comes: to maturity quite a month before the latter. Both rejoice in strong soils, ,and a stiff loam or clay is necessary to folly bring out the fine qualities of Foxtail, and to. maintain it in- a, green state during hot dry weather* Still it luxuriates in warmth, and on well drained land in moisture also, but during prolonged rain a heavy crop may be beaten down, and then it is liable to rot at the roots. This fact again points to the necessity of mowing in good time. Alopecurus cannot endure a water logged soil, and it is useless to sow seed in such positions. Yet it is one of the best grasses known for land under irrigation. . Oo ve»y dry Spoils. Foxtail is so stantedjand diminutive as to appear to be almost a different grass, but even in such soils it may sometimes be worth sowing in small proportion, and wat seasons will prove that this is not a mistaken policy. > True seed of the Alopecurus pra« tenais is always expensive, and it is so light and delicate in formation as to need exceedingly well prepared land to ensure vegetation. Unfortunately the stiff soils which specially suit Foxtail are the most difficult to make fine in time for sowing. But it is worth a strenuous effort for this grass alone to get the land into good order. (to be continued)