RYE AND CLOVER IDEAL PASTURE

Shannon News, 28 March 1929, Page 3

RYE AND CLOVER IDEAL PASTURE

THE AIM OF FARMERS,

“If you can get down to perennial rye and white clover you will have the ideal pasture,” stated Mr. E. Bruce Levy, of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture, in his address to the farmers assembled at Glen Oroua yesterday for the Herd Testing Association’s field day. The lecturer added that when the farmer had secured that ideal he would then know that his drainage was right, control right and manuring was right. The relationship of soil moisture to the type of grass grown was very important. In fact, the species growing in a paddock were indicative of the soil condition and told the farmer very plainly what should be done to bring the soil up to that state of fertility that it would be able to carry the ideal clover and rye pasture. Until that state was reached, the next best grasses when conditions were not suitable for rye, such grasses as Timothy, poa trivialis and lotus major could be substituted. Not enough use was made of crested dogstail chiefly because farmers believed tbo grass took a hold of pastures and pushed out the. better kinds. If such a thing did happen it was an indication that the farmer was not looking after the fertility of his land. It was absurd to say crested dogstail would push out other grasses. After referring to the problem of selecting suitable rye and clover seed for pastures (reported Under a separate heading), Mr. Levy stressed the need for managing paddocks in such a way as to prevent rank growth. He also referred to the effect of locality on cetain grasses. For instance, strawberry clover did well in coastal lands where it got salt spray, which seemed to help its growth. He also urged farmers not to consider price - when buying seed. Far better would it be to sow 7 half the quantity per acre and get the right, types and species.