SOWING PASTURES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 3

SOWING PASTURES

MARCH REGARDED AS BEST MONTH. NATURE OF SEED MIXTURE. As a general rule in the North Island ; pastures are best sown during March. I The seeds of most grasses and clovers i require fairly warm conditions for germination. Depending on the season and tlte district sowings much later than March may ‘adversely affect the germination .of the sown seed and may i consequently allow weeds a better op- | portunity to establish. Clovers arc i more sensitive than grasses to late sowj ing. One of the faults of late sowing j is a lack of clover developments which I will seriously affect the whole pasture i until such time as the deficiency can be i remedied. J The nature of -the seed mixture is very important. The farmer should aim to,sow the right quantity of a mixture of pure seeds of a .good quality ad strain. The main grasses and clover seeds are available as seed certified by Iho Department, of Agriculture. It is ;as poor economy to sow a very light I total seeding ns it is to sow a veiy j heavy seeding; advice relative to the | best mixture:; for different districts ; ■ may bo obtained from Fields Division ] I officers. Individual seeds? if sown at I | all should bo in suffieieni. quantity io I I form a useful constituent of the sward. I i For in.mmee. it is useless sowing cocks- | i foot at loss than four pounds to the J i acre. Good clover seed should be included in all mixtures, no reliance being placed on inferior strains of "selfI sown" clovers appearing in the pasture. The successful establishment of a new sward, whether temporary or permanent, depends as much on the proper preparation of the land and the > exercise of reasonable precautions at the time of sowing the seeds and for a few months subsequently, as upon the ; nature of the actual seed mixture employed. Previous to sowing the seed every endeavour should be made to secure a clean seed-bed. Repeated harrowing destroys annual weeds. Both before and after sowing the seed, rolling is advisable on most soils, provided the ground is not wet. The seed-bed should be firm but not coagulated. A light harrowing should be given to cover the seed. To obtain the best i establishment on poor land, manure should always be used at the time of sowing.