FEEDING VALUES OF GRASSES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10161, 10 February 1911, Page 6

FEEDING VALUES OF GRASSES.

AN INTERESTING OPINION.

A settler at Homowood, near Masterton, recently asked the opinion of the Government Biologist concerning the feeding properties of Danthonia Semiaimularis, Festuca durino vnr., Festuca angustif, Agvostis vulgaris; also, was the latter seed suitable for dry ground? The Biologist replies as follows : Danthonia Semiaimularis. —There is considerable divergence of opinion on the feeding-value of Danthonia, but it can be ranked as a fairly nutritious grass, and highly suitable for sowing in localities whero better herbage, such as cocksfoot and white clover, will not thrive. The grass varies to a remarkable degree, many of the forms being far more valuable for pastoral purposes than others. Chewing's Fescue. —This grass is a form of red fescu.-. (Festuca rubra), and its origin is uncertain. Its name has been derived from a southern farmer who was amongst the first to sell seed of this grass in Southland. At the present time it is looked upon as a valuable grass for dry, poor soils, but should never be sown on land that will be broken v.p in a. few years' time. Its feeding-value is slightly inferior to the better-class forms of Danthonia, but it gives a larger yield of herbage. A considerable amount of seed is exported annually to Europe, where it is marketed as Festuca rubra. Festuca angustifolia. —A from of fine-leaved sheep's fescue. This is a useful bottom grass in mixed sheeppasturage, and is highly nutritious, being little inferior to cocksfoot. The yield, however, is small, except in favoured localities, and it will not endure prolonged drought. Agrostis vulgar;?.—A valuable grass for second-class lands. It gives a large yield of herbage superior . in feeding-value to either Danthonia or Chewing's fescue. Its chief objection is that it grows very scantily during the winter and spring months. Wai-pu-Brown Top and Matakana Red Top are both local names for Agrostis vulgaris. It succeeds well on poor land, but requires a considerable amount of moisture. I would not ad- , vise its use in localities where the ' rainfall is less than 40in. per year. Seed is difficult" to secure true to I name, the majority of European samples containing several distinct forms of Agrostis mixed together. American seed is generally more reliable, there being a large demand for the j.;. - ass in the United States.