RESEEDING PLAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1939, Page 7

RESEEDING PLAN

RENOVATION OF ENGLISH GRASSLANDS.

"STROKE OF GOOD BUSINESS.”

As part of the British Government’s plan for expanding agriculture, increasing attention has been devoted by English farmers to the ploughing out of worthless grassland with the object of re-seeding. It represents a problem not confined to Great Britain and many New Zealand farmers will agree with Mr H. G. Robinson, principal of the Midland Agricultural College, in a recent statement that it is a stroke of good business both for the country and for the farmer.

In an article published by the English journal "Country Life,” Mr Robinson refers to the decision to grant a subsidy at the rate of £2 an acre to farmers who between May and the end of September this year undertake re-seeding. He says there is no need to dwell on the fact that a serious deterioration has taken place in the country’s grasslands, due very largely to circumstances that have been beyond the farmer’s power to control. With a revival of interest in the problem of food production in a time of emergency it has become imperative to ensure that the country would be able to adjust itself to conditions that are not considered. necessary at the moment‘in time of peace. The new scheme in regard to the ploughing out of grassland is a logical development of the land fertility campaign. Amazing results have been achieved by farmers who have been adventurous in the matter of ploughing out old. matted and worn-out turfs and have re-seeded the land with modern, simple seeds mixtures. The process is a relatively simple one, but certain considerations have to be observed if full success is to be realised. Mr Robinson states that the first object in tackling old grassland is to plough the land in such a manner that the old turf is well buried. Consolidation of the ground is equally' important, so that when the land is fit to carry a roller, it should be well rolled. Tilth formation should be undertaken next by harrowing the ground, but it should be regulated so as not to bring up too much of the original turf. Manuring is an indispensable aid in this work of improvement, and in Britain advantage can be taken of the lime and basic slag sub-

sidies. There are also facilities for obtaining free soil analyses. Arising out of recent research it has been shown that when old grassland is ploughed up it is inadvisable to use a nurse crop with the grass and clover seeds that are employed for re-seeding. However, reasonable grazing can be obtained in the first year of seeding by the use of Italian rye grass with the seeds required for permanent grazing purposes.