NGAKURU PASTURES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 145, 11 February 1932, Page 6

NGAKURU PASTURES

MIXTURES USED DETAILS OF MANURES USED ON THE EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS. VALUABLE TNFORMATION GAINED. The splendid growth of pasture on the Ngakura Blocks in the Whirinaki Basin has warmly encouraged confidence in the.policy of bring'ing waste pumice lands ir.to occupation. But it must be remembered that an enonnous amount of work has been entailed and the employment of much capital has been necessary — much more capital than the average farmer could command. The implements used alone represent a very large sumi of money and only the best in fencing material, manures and seeds have been provided. Experts have also watched every stage of the development and nothing has been left undone to accomplish success. The Department set out to bring this land into profit and it accomplished the object in a space of time possible under no other conditions. It is believed, also, that the final cost will enable farming operations to be carried on at a reasonable profit. Grass Mixtures. As mentioned in previous articles on the subject, work was commenced on this land in February, 1930. The land was cleared of scrub, ploughed, rolled in the furrow, double disced, then chain harrowed and rolled immediately before seed was sown and the seed covered with brush harrow. The sowing of seed commenced during the last week of September, 1930. All the autumn sowings received an additional rolling after sowing. The grass mixture used for permanent pasturos sown in the spring was as follows: — Italian rye, 51b; perenial rye, 221b; cocksfoot, 101b; crested dogstail, 31b; red clover, 2113; Alsike clover, 11b; and white clover, 21b; making a total of 451b per acre. On steep faces which had to be hand-sown, the following mixture was used. — Perennial rye, 81b; crested dogstail, 41b; cocksfoot, 61b; brown top 21b; Yorkshire fog, 41b; red clover Ub; white clover, 21b; lotus major, Ub; making a total of 281b .per acre. For temporary pastures sowings the mixture was as follows: — Italian rye, 251b; cocksfoot, 61b; Yorkshire fog, 21b; red clover, 51b; white clover, 11b ; 1 giving a total of 391b per acre. Autumn Sowings. In the autumn permanent pasture sowings the mixture was altered slightly and a small quantity of fog was included in case early autumn frosts should render pasture establishment difficult. The following mixture was used: — Italian rye, 51b; perennial 'rye, 201b; cocksfoot, 101b; crested dogstail, 31b; Yorkshire fog, 21b; red clover, 21b; Alsike clover, llb; white clover, 21b; or a total of 451b per acre. Dairying Commenced. The "home" or "No. 1 farm," has an area of 224 acres, and 173 acres have been put under the plough. Permanent pasture covers 885 acres and temporary pasture 841 acres. The manurial treatment adopted with regard to the top-dressing of the permanent pasture was to apply 3cwt of ammoniated super to the acre in autumn and 3cwt of super alone in the spring. The fields (four) between the buildings and the boundary at road received additional manurial treatment in the way of top-dressing of 1401b of nitrochalk per acre, early in the month of September. Pasture growth in the month of October was rapid, and a commencement was made to mow (top) during the last week in October; this work being continued during November until all fields were dealt with. During the last week of November 10 tons of hay and 60 tons of ensilage were made. Sufficient progress had been made by July, 1931, to enable dairying tc be commenced on business lines anc at the present time the 885 acres carry 56 dairy cows, 33 yearlings, c bulls, 7 additional bulls for three months, 28 calves, 90 additional yearling heifers for one month and 20( sheep from 10th Decejnber to 31st January, 1932. Butter-fat production to end oi January, 1932, totalled 87601b. The 84 acres of temporary pastun had autumn and spring top-dressing: of 3cwt of super, but was not grazec after September, when it was shut ui for ensilage and hay. The first croj produeed 200 tons of ensilage and thc second cut, in January, produeed 51 tons of hay. • Manurial Treatment. With the object of securing reliaVj evidence of the results of variou: manurial treatments snecial plots wer set aside for experiments. To ascertain the value of nitrogen, this ele ment was applh d ir he form of sni phate of ammonia aua niu'ochaik, and proved better for the establishment >;' rye grass than the application of phosphates alone, The plots so dressed also showed evidence of the closes. grazing. A treatment by 3ewt oi super, 3cwt lime and lcwt of sul phate of ammonia has given the bes!: grazing results un to date. •On areas where super alone ha - been used, and the clover growth controlled by grazing and mowing • rye grass is making good establishment, but in sueh cases the growth U not so rapid as where nitrogen has also been applied. Where clover has not been controlled the growth of the rye grass has suffered. . Trials were also made on plots with phosphate as follows: — (1) Super (2), basic slag (3), gafsa phosphate (4), super and slag in equal parts. All plots were dressed at the rate of 3cwt per acre twice a year — in March and August. The plots dressed with super were the best grazed and contained most white clover. There was no noticeable difference in the other plots. In other cases Scwt of basic slag and 3cwt basic slag plus 2cwt of 30 per cent. potash salts, was applied with no appreciable difference. Phos.phates showed good results when applied where this manure had not be- * fore been used and lime produeed slight improvement . Experiments were also tried in the variation of the standard grass-seed mixture. Where no red clover or Al-

sike had been included in the pasture and 21b of white clover added, stock showed particular preference and the area so treated was closely grazed, while a pasture alongside with 31b of Alsike to the acre was entirely neglected. A red clover plot without Alsike showed evidence of good grazing and better colour than the main pasture. Both subterranean clover and paspalum were a failure. Taking the whole of Nq. 1 block, it is estimated that 1069 acres are in grass and with the exception of section 7 (where ammoniated super was used) all spring sowing was made with 3cwt of super. Where ammoniated super was used there was an improved establishment of rye grass. Apart from No. 1 farm, the black is carrying at present 255 2-year Hereford heifers and bullocks, 110 18-mth. heifers, 220 weaners and 300 sheep. On No. 2 block, 2157 acres have been grassed and 80 acres put down in swedes and turnips, and stock will be moved on in the near future.