SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND TOUR

SUCCESS WITH SUBTERRANEAN CLOVER. MARLBOROUGH IMPRESSIONS. “At the property of Mr H. R. Baker we were shown what could be done with subterranean clover on poor country.” writes Mr C. Welch in a description of portion of a tour of the South f Island undertaken recently by members of Wairarapa Young Farmers’ Clubs, referring particularly to Marlborough. “This country normally would only grow native grasses and carry a sheep to two acres,” states Mr Welch. “Mr Baker told us that since it had been developed with subterranean clover he had harvested up to 901bs per acre of seed, after which he had carried 400 ewes and lamb for six weeks on a twenty-acre paddock. Some subterranean clover had been in the soil for 30 years but has only been developed for the past seven years, three crops of seed being taken in succession. The rainfall in this district is only 20 inches per annum; therefore topdressing can be done only to the extent of 14 cwt per acre. “At Mr J. B. Laidlaw's farm, Fairhall, the party inspected several breeds of sheep, among which were Merino, English Leicester cross, Dorset Horn and Corriedales. The Dorset Horn sheep were of particular interest, being new to most of the party. These sheep have two crops of lamb a year, several lambs running around with their mothers at the time of our visit. A 401 b lamb can be produced in nine weeks. The sheep shear six pounds of wool with a count as high as 64. “On our way back to Blenheim we stopped at Woodbourne Aerodrome, where hangars, airmen’s quarters, etc, for this new airport are under construction. The hangars are being made in sections to be erected later. All the roofing of the building is of corrugated asbestos, this being warmer in winter and cooler in summer than iron. The hangars will accommodate 200 moths. The 160 acre landing field was a great sight, the grass just coming away, having been sown just before the rain. The field is as level as a bowling green. Forty-five pounds of seed were sown per acre, the seed consisting of Italian ryegrass, brown top. dogstail and subterranean clover. A well sunk on the ground yields 100,000 gallons of water a day. “On the Friday we left Blenheim for Nelson, visiting en route the property of Mr A. E. Leslie, Okaramio. Situated in a valley silted up by floods, this property 30 years ago was nothing but flax. The surrounding hills are practically useless. Mr Leslie has harvested up to 10771bs of red clover seed per acre from these flats. A 13acre paddock yielded seed to the value of £4O per acre. After being entertained at morning tea we travelled on to Nelson, passing the head of Pelorous Sound.”