SUB- CLOVER

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 351, 4 February 1937, Page 3

SUB- CLOVER

Development of Stong Riverbed Land GOOD RESULTS ’ Interesting comments dealing with the success of subterranean clover in the South Island, where it has been introduced comparatively ’’ecently, is contained in an article in the Churchchurch “Press”. In view of the outstanding results obtained with subterranean clover in Hawke’s Bay, the following quotations from the article will be of interest:—

“A farmer during the week who grazes light stony river-bed land, mentioned to the writer that he had carried on a paddock of subterranean right through the winter six ewes to the acre. In a few years his flock had more than doubled in size, and he had feed to spare. ‘Subterranean is the natural covering for scores of thousands of acres of light laud on the plains/ he remarked, ‘and in another 10 years, if farmers wake up to its value, the carrying capacity of such country will be much more than doubled.’

“A few stands were inspected in the Rolleston-Dunsandel district, and in the Rakaia river-bed districts. ‘Stands’ may be a mis-description, as on one property the area comprised 1500 acres, undoubtedly the largest belt of the clover in one holding in the Dominion. Incidentally, with the aid of 55 acres of lucerne. 40 acres of turnipa, and a small area oi Montgomeryshire red clover, these 1500 acres, with 700 acres of-barren river-bed thrown in, are carrying practically 3000 sheep, a lair proportion of them studs, and the great bulk flock breeding ewes.

“This notable achievement has been secured on the ‘Oakleigh’ estate of the Canterbury Seed Company on the road between Leeston and the Rakaia bridge. The better part of the property was at one time obviously subject to frequent, if not permanent attention, from the Rakaia river, but the bulk of the 22(K) acres is plainly old river-bed, the natural covering of which, was maituka, matagouri, moss and stones of varying sizes. Gorse came along after the white man and has lent a little colour. This is the condition of this river-bed country today. Its grazing value is apparently nil, but it might be worth 25;- or 30/an acre for shelter and on odd picking. It is amazing to see this sort of waste separated only by a fence Horn subterranean clover carrying three and four ewes and lambs to "the acre io r quite long periods. The local of Jth§ company, Air H. N^ve ? has every occasion to feel gratifies with the results of his policy of reclamation. It is only a little more than five years since h e started out with subterranean to clothe this waste and most of his 1500 were sown during the first two and' a half, years. He sowed IJlb. of seed to the acre in the earlrer fields,, with ryegrass or cocksfoot. In ths first .ear the development was slow as far as the subterranean was concerned, but towards the third year it had started to live Up to its reputation, spreading thicklv n® f u , r . face of ‘lie grou'nd and gradually taking possession. The plant sorted out the better soil covering and there is holds indisnuted swav.