THE GRASS GRUB

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 255, 20 June 1932, Page 8

THE GRASS GRUB

ADVICE TO FARMERS PURE SEEDS CONSQLIDATIQN ADVOCATED AS BEST CURE. PREVENTION BY CATTLE. Asked foi* some advice with regard to the ravages of the grass grub Mr. Bruce Levey, of the Department of Agriculture, gave some useful information to Matamata farmers a few days ago. One farmer, Mr. E. C. McCoi-mack, instanced pastures near Russell and in the Waikato which had been down from 40 to over 50 years, and which were apparently as good as ever to-day and not troubled with grass grub. On the other hand he had sown new pastures with the best availa.ble seed, and with a generous allowance of manure, and yet these pastures were riddled with the grub. In reply, Mr. Levey said that grass grub was a difficult problem, and though they were by no means sitting down and doing nothing, to date they had not discovered a method of controlling this pest on a farm-scale. He was certain, liowever that behind the trouble was the wrong kind of rye seed. Certified seed gave more vigorous growth, and where they got that the ravages of the pest were not so bad. In new pastures they could expect more trouble, as in the. first few years there was not the necessary consolidation. Better pastures secured by certified seeds gave greater production and hence far more carrying capacity. This greater carrying capacity in turn meant a greater consolidation of the pasture surfaee, which provided the greatest check on the grub. Packing of the soil with a Cambridge roller about February would greatly help the pastures by knitting the top soil to the subsoil where it had been cut by the grub. Old pastures resisted the grub better, but if they were ploughed up the grub would he found. Rank growth undoubtedly harboured the pest, which also spread through haying the same pasture year after year. In Canterbury sowing grass after cereals had been abandoned, as it had been found the eereal erop proved a cover for the pest. Early sown turnips also proved a cover. He was certain that the sharp impress from the feet of cattle prevented the grub spreading. Certified seeds, however, were at the back of successful control.