PERMANENT PASTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1534, 4 May 1882, Page 4

PERMANENT PASTURE.

We are indebted to a valued correspondent for the following extract from the Leah Mercury : — All farmers who think of laying clown permanent pasture should road the report of Mr Carrathers, botanist to the "Royal Agricultural Society, presented at the last council meeting of the society, and since published in the agricultural .papers. Mr Oarruthers remarks /upon the necessity of choosing those vai'ieties of grasses which- are perennial, suitable to climate and soil, and nutritious. Annual grasses are obviously unsuited to permanent pasture, while short-liv^d grasses, such as ryegrass, although suitable for alternate husbandry, cannot be lccommended for permanent pasture. Of the eighty species of indigenous grasses, comparatively few are, all that is required for pasture.' Some are not liked by stock, otlieis ai-e not very nutritious, and others again grow a very small quantity of food. Fortunately, some of the most productive varities are also among the most nutritious, and it is a common error to reject some of the so-called " coaise" rasses. As to the few vaiieties, possessing the several valuable qualifications, Mr Caru tliers says— The observations ofM.de Laune, which aresupported by the testimony of previous careful observers, &how that the best permanent pasture grasses arc the following five species : Dactylis glomerate, or cock's foot : Phleum pratensc, or Timothy ; Alopecurus pratensis, or meadow fox-tall ; Festuca pratensis, or meadow fescue ; and Festuca elatior, or tall fescue. These five grasses alone would supply favourite and nutritious food throughout the whole year. There should be added some Dutch and perennial red clovers. And some of the smaller, or so-called finer grasses, would be advantageously introduced in order to , secure a compact turf— such grasses as Poa, nemoralis, Poa trivialis, Agrostis stolonifera, Cynosurus ciisratus, Aiu thoxanthum odoratum, and Festuca duriuscula. But the real value of the pasture will depend upon the proportion of the five'hrger gra&ses which are found iv it. Their first importance is still further shown by the fact that their roots continue to grow from year to year, and the plants consequently got firmer hold on the soil, and, having a moi-e cxtentive root systom than annual <n asses, they »wffor less from drought. The exclusion of the short-lived vyc-gras&cs, which are bo overwhelming an ingredient in all permanent^ pasture mixtures iv the market, will deprive the farmer of that speedy, exhibition of a green and vigorous pasture so captivating to the eye, and so often accepted as the best testimony to the value of tli^ lhixture employed, but so worthless as the basis of a permanent pasture. < Rye-grass' is used chiefly because it gives, a good bite or cut in the spring after it is sown, and for that reason fanners. wiU.be loth to give up using , it intheniixtnres of grass seeds. . No doubt, however,' it would pay better in the long run to' cTispensewith it, as it overshadows u nnd ".injures the finer grasses, besides , occupying ,their ,places.

A Yankee editor advises liis readers, if they 'wish' to' get teeth' inserted, to go and steal fruit where a watch t dog is oil guard; ' •'•' ' ' , ' ' " fcf'oto fliq ant,', tholi sluggard !",' 'is very "good advice, but most of them go to , theirTin£le. ' , " ' '' '' - ' EyEttx niaii has his 'forte, if "he 1 , on^jr knew'h'owtd'hpld' it,— [New York Cm*-' mmhlJ-dvcrftiir. ii( ( , f Two^gentlem'an passing the !N"awn?>i Bank at Gallipolw/ Ohio, Recently, ]&uvd, the clibWof'a' burgUr's'driU/^iyvig 1 ;^", alanii'/.yie'TbiaiiK sttrroulided'ftpd entered by forty 1 6r fifty eitizffisj armed , with, brickfiats, pna atid J>l*s>ls., ( revealed acriQ^qticlir^H^^^^!?^