NEWS AND NOTES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 December 1932, Page 3

NEWS AND NOTES

DRY WEATHER PASTURES. J Dry weather conditions prevail, and although such is 'excellent for haymaking, rain is much' xequired for pastures, swede and turnip crops, and would also be of benefit in the making of ensilage. * # Factory returns for fhe first two weeks of the month show a slight falling off compared with the last two weeks of November and this decrease will continue until the desired rain comes. * * * On the newly developed pumice lands, where pastures, are young, the returns for the first two weeks of December are slightly ahead of the last two weeks period of November, and it will be interesting to note how long this maintenance under the present weather conditions will continue, Factory managers report that while there has been an aggregate drop in returns for two weeks in December, a number of individual suppliers are showing as good results as in November.

W * * It is a very interesting study in a travel through the district to note the varying contrast in the conditions of pastures at the present time following the meagre rainfall of the last two months. Growth oij one class of soil shows an entirely different growth to another. There are instances where one may see parched, dry areas and immediately alongside an excellent pasture of good colour and growth. These differences are to be expected where variations in soil occur. Light, heavy and damp soils give outstanding differences in results under periods of drought.. But this interesting study is not in noting the difference of pastures in light and heavy soils, but to note the differences on equal soils, and to endeavour to locate the reason of the different results. * M= * Seed mixtures, quality of seed, manurial treatment and management are all factors governing the distinct variable results which can be observed in every part of the district. * * * In some cases the contrasting results in improvement is brouj-ht about by the selection of good seed; in other cases manurial treatment has been the factor, and in many instances management has been the means of improvement. * * * Variations. Considering this variation of pasture on similar soils under dry weather conditions, it is interesting to note that good quality seed produces a more vigorous type of pasture which will withstand adverse climatic conditions better than seed of low quality. Pastures with' a scant clover content show the eifect of want of rain more quickly than pastures which contain a fair stand of clover. * * * Certified Hawkte's Bay perennial rye is outstanding in its superiority of growth and maintenance of food production over rye pastures produced from seed from rye in other parts of the Dominion. A pasture with rye and white clover dominant is not conducive to rank growth and is easily controlled hy grazing, being exceeding palatable and liked by stock; it also withstands adverse dry weather better than pastures of greater growth. * * * Alsike on lighter lands, although making good growth, is not relished by stock to the same extent as it is in heavier lands. * * * * Rye and Clover. Rye, white and red clover on the same class of light soil, all in one field as a pasture (of rye, white, red and alsike clover) will be better grazed, and at a time like th'e present, will be green and more succulent than inferior grasses. A pasture of inferior grasses always shows the effects of dry weather more quickly than grasses and clover of better quality. * * * * Manurial Treatment. The difference in pasture appearance is distinctly due to manurial treatment. The line of difference between a dry parched pasture and a pasture of good colour and growth can be very clearly defined. It is brought about solely by manurial treatment. In the newly-developed pumice lands, superphosph'ate is the chief factor in improvement, and on old-establisbed pastures, basic slag or super and slag mixed, are very often the manures which make the improvement. * * * Management. Management in control of growth is an important factor in the keeping of pastures ip such a condition that they can withstand dry conditions. .'There is good evidence of this throughout the district. Pastures of 'similar seed mixtures, on equal classes of soil, where controlled hy grazing and mowing, are much more succulent, and producing better butter-fat yields than pastures which have not been controlled and are becoming dry and parched. * * * =i Hens' Big Appetite. Hens participating in the first annual state egg-laying contest in Harrisburg, Pa., consumed 20 times their own 'weight in food during th'e 10month contest period, the Agricultural Department xeported. Departmental statisticians estimated that the average cost of feeding the hens was 9.2 eents for each dozen eggs produced. The hens consumed 10 tons of laying mash, 18 tons of scratch grain, nine tons of fleshing mash, two tons of oyster sh'olls, several thousand heads of cabbage, 92 gallons of cod liver oil, and half a ton of grit. * * ~ * Market for Ryegrass. Until the bulk of the ryegrass har-

vest is completed and the seed starts to come into the stores, there will be no definite indication of the state of the market. The opinion of experts is that a slight easing of prices may be looked for in ! regard to permanent pasture and first harvest seed, in view of the large in- j crease in areas entered for certifica- j tion, but they did not believe prices j would fall very much. -■>: * Star Thistle. Although variegated thistle appears to be giving farmers of the Poverty Bay district more trouble at present than most other weeds, the star thistle has made its appearance, and, if neglected, may become as great a menace as the variegated variety. The star thistle is not a noxious weed, and this fact may result in a more rapid spread than with most other weeds, for farmers may not see the necessity for clearing it. However it is in the farmers' own interests to keep the weed cleared. It can be distlng^ished by the starshaped arrangement of its spikes. News from Hawke's Bay states that the star thistle is established there. It has been confused with Bathurst hurr, which is one of the worst of noxious weeds.