SIR, JOHN LAWES ON PERMANENT PASTURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2298, 2 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

SIR, JOHN LAWES ON PERMANENT PASTURE.

The following correspondence which has recently taken place between Mr C. P. Tebbutb and Sir John Lawes, Bart., will be read with great interest by agriculturists generally, as the lion, baronet's authority on the manner of sowing seeds for permanent pasture will no doubt tend to influence others less experienced : — Bluntisliam, near St. Ives, Hunts, Dec. 4th, 1880. Dear Sin John,—When enjoying a very pleasant clay before harvest at R'lthtimsted I understood you to say that in your opinion the practice of sowing broad clover and cniniriou rye-grass with finer grasses in laying down land! to permanent pasture is not an objectionable practise. I think yon said that whim the clover and rye-grass died, the roots decaying formed useful nutriment for the young grasses, which, during the first two years had been sheltered and not injured. Assuming that the above statement of your opinion is correct, will you pardon my asking you whether you think sowing sanfoin or lucerne with young seeds would be likely to prove successful in laying down permanent pasture. I am told by an intelligent market-gardner at St. Tves that he finds everything grows well after lucerne. I will make this letter and your reply public or private as you may wish. I need hardly say that just now guidance in laying down permanent pasture is very desirable. —Yours, (fee, C. P. Tebbutt. Ssr .lohn 13. Lawes, Eart. Ardchattan Priory Taynuilt, Argyleshire. December lith, 1880. Dear Sir,—ln answer to your question, I consider that in laying down land to permanent pasture it is advisable to sow with the perennial seeds a certain quantity of annual and biennial grasses. It is quite true that if the soil is in very high condition at the time of sowing, and an abundance of manure is used during 'the first year or two, perenuial plants may give at once a fairly good pasture, but such is not the ordinary state of of land when laid down. Compared with the perennial plants, the annual and biennial plants produced but few roots, and their growth is chiefly above ground. By using a portion of these plants you obtain much more herbage during the first two years, and the decay of the roots at the end of the life of these plants furnishes a supply of food to the perennial herbage. In reference to your further question whether sainfoin or lucerne .should form a portion of the seed sown for a permanent pasture I think that lucerne should always form a portion of the seed sown. Of all the plants known to me lucerne is the one which yields in its produce the largest amount of nitrogen where none has been applied in manure ; it also sends its roots deeper into the subsoil than any other plant. There is a Held in my neighbourhood which was sown with lucerne about twenty years ago ; not being kept clean it almost at onco became covered with couch grass and weeds. These plants have not, however, been able to drive out the lucerne, of which there is a considerable quantity still on the land.—Yours, &c, J. B. Lawes. C. B. Tebbutt, K-;q. 11.-iit's Chronicle.