The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, January 7, 1911. GIANT FESCU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 938, 7 January 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, January 7, 1911. GIANT FESCU.

A considerable area of the rich grazing land in this district, through which the Manawatu river runs and overflows, is covered with “ tall ” or “ giant ” fescue. It is a familiar sight on the land in question to see huge tussocks of this giant grass waving like a great oat held as far as the eye can see. The plants rear their slender heads from five to six leet in height. Instead of being a blessing to the lartuer for stocklatteniug purposes in this district, it is a curse. Owing to the richness of the soil the fescue grows so rank that stock will not cat it. So it flourishes —to the larmer’s annoyance and loss. Not only does it monopolise the ground to the sacrifice ot other useful grasses, but it causes the hoots of animals to rot off. It costs the lamer £3 per acre to grub it out. It will be seen, therefore, that the man who introduced this grass into the fertile parts of the Manawatu did not confer a blessing upon his fellows, despite the fact that he might have induced two blades to grow where only one previously sprouted. In poorer soil, however, tall fescue is, we are informed, in great demand and a healthy market lor the seed has been established between New Zealand and South Africa, Canada and other parts. Mr H. S. Munro and others have a large number ol hands employed in havesting the seed and camps are pitched at intervals for miles along the river bank above the Whirokiuo bridge. The industry has provided employment for a large number of men who would otherwise be out of work. Mr Munro informs us that for the early cutting, when the seed is free from ergot, the price averages from 3d to per lb. He anticipates that from 1500 to 2000 sacks of seed will be harvested and exported from the locality this season. We hope the harvesting of the seed will, in a measure, compensate the settlers for the loss sustained y the luxurious growth ot the tall lescue.