CONTROL OF GRASS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 19 (Supplement)

CONTROL OF GRASS

MANAGEMENT AND METHODS BEFORE SPRING GROWTH Before the commencement of spring growth grassland farmers should consider the present management methods on their farms in the j light of possible improvements which ! could be made in the coming seaj son. | In the first place, are all the pasi lures on the farm first class ? Possibly topdressing with or without surface sowing will be sufficient to improve poorer swards to the level ■ of the other pastures, if there are sufficient good pasture species present to respond to the fertilisers, : but it is more likely that ploughing and resowing will be necessary. In replacing grassland it is nearly ali ( ways profitable to grow one or two | crops before ultimately sowing down : to grass. If an area requires re--5 r placement it should be ploughed at L an early date as soon as the soil is i > workable so that the land may be

thoroughly prepared for the crop to be sown. Secondly, is the topdressing programme adequate ? It would probably be practicable to extend the area that is annually topdressed. Possibly the time at which the fertiliser is applied, the type of manure used, and the method of application could be improved upon. The spring is not generally the best time for topcjressing but it is frequently advantageous to topdress areas which were missed in the autumn, and also areas which are to be shut up for hay and silage. Hay and Silage i Thirdly, is sufficient hay and silage ' saved to form a reliable reserve for any period of shortage in the summer or the winter ? Figures show that throughout New Zealand the area saved as hay and silage is quite inadequate for the stock numbers to be fed. For every cow carried there should be saved one acre of hay or silage unless crops are bej ing sown. Fields to be shut up for j hay and silage should be closed ; early in September in the warmer j districts to early in October in th° colder districts. Previous to closing they should be thoroughly harrowed and cleaned up. Early closing allows the pasture to be cut in the leafy stage and results in the field being free for the use of stock in the summer when the green aftermath will be of great value. Fourthly, is the system of grazing on the farm such as to allow least I waste and greatest production ? I Continuous hard grazing in the winter and early spring coupled with , lax grazing in the summer causes de~ • terioration and decrease in producJ tion of pastures. The better and j more palatable species are punished | at a critical stage of their growth j to the advantage of inferior species and weeds. The remedies are the ; growing of crops, the saving of more . hay and silage, and the use of a 1 system of controlled grazing. Sub--1 division is inadequate on many i farms to allow a complete system . ; of rotational grazing but within the ■ limits of available paddocks a modi- : fied system is possible. Thus, where i . two paddocks are available for a cer- > ! tain number of sheep or dairy stock, ) better results are obtained when the • stock are alternated in one mob be- ■ tween the two paddocks than when > they are split into two mobs which l graze each paddock continuously.