Pasture Notes.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 36, 19 November 1920, Page 6

Pasture Notes.

PASTURES, DRAINAGE AND HERBAGE. In New Zealand the pasture occupies a far greater area in proportion to that devoted to crdps than is nsually knoven in other countries. It is quite natural that this should be the position, for the plants of our pasture have a longer season of growth than those of most other countries. Ihe pa-stures oi New Zealand are its greatest riches. Tne question may, however, be asked, are these pastures in the best condition? it is believed that it will be accepted that the reply cannot be hi the affirmative, Many of khase pastures remain undrained, or but little attempt has been made to remove surplus water. This is a condition that is adverse to the greatest production of herbage of many of the most desirable varieties of grasses and clovers. It is fully admitted that the cost of draining is a serious item to consider ; still the improved condition of the pasture is a warrant for the undertaking, and there are f.ew pastures where draining is wanted that will fail to repay the outlay within a reasonable time. The advantages are immediate and numerous, the production is greater, the better varietieg of grasses and legumes may be .grown, the season i.s lengthened, and most of all, the very reason of the existence of pastures, the maintenance of live stock in a thriving condition is secured. In the well-drained pastuie the parasites that affect the animal fail to obtain the favourable habitat of the water-logged soil, and certain diseases are less formidable on the warmer welldrained farms. It cannot fail to be recognised that field drainage should receive much greater attention ; in fact, the increasing price of land will enforce impro\ ement. The rush-covered wa t er - s atu r a t e d country may have been permitted, when the unearned increment was the most secure and profitable production of the farrns of New Zealand. That increment may be accepted as becoming less assured and very decidedly of a less rapid haivesting. The imxiroved condition of the land ig the necessity of the present, and

th,e first step to that is drainage. There are other improvements also to be undertaken. There is, on the great proportion of prrass lands, the all-ess,en-tial lime, to he liberally applied. With this there ar,e the nsually accepted fertilisers to be used. To these the plants of the pasture respond in actual proportion to the ext-ent of the application, and the live stock participates with the favourable conditions of the soil to rapidly affect the desired alteration in the pasture. The clovers from forming but a small part of the herbage become the greater. With this the animals thrive better, and tlie greater stock-carrying capacity of the pas'^ire is quickly manifested, and with this, the greater the abundance of the clover, the greater the quantity of nitrogen that will be obtained and the greater fertility of the soil is secured.

WHITE CLOVER. It may be that a pasture before draining and treatment is so unsuitable to plants of the family of legumes that few clover or trefoij plants are present. When this is the position seed of these plants may be surface sown with fair results. It is, however, absolutely useless to expect to establish clovers on such pastures, until the indicated improvements have been allowed the necessary time to assert themselves. It is futile to expect soil to dry as soon a-s drains are made, or soil to msllow so soon a.3 lime has been spread. The first spring following the draining and treatment will exhibit improvement, then tbe addition of clover seed sown on the surface of the ground is warranted and that will he greatly helped with a topdressing of a phosphatic manure followed with chain harrowing. We hear great claims for the wonder working Wild White Clover, with the further claim that it is a distinct variety of the usual White or Dutch or Creeping clover, and the. prices quoted in Great Britain are not less than 35s a pound. It is, however, fairly assured that colon-ial-grown White Clover possesses just about the identicab qualifications as the lately made fashionable wild variety. ALSIKE. It has to be accepted that there are soils and conditions that may not be amenable to the treatment required to admit White clover to become abundant. It is in such cireumstances that Alsike becomes useful. This variety is, of course, "well known, hut is not possibly of such general knowledge that it will grow on

soils too acid, too wet and t°° po01 1 acceptable to other clovers-it ^ ^ known to withstand a wmteL^e ^ destroyed both grasses an ■ Alsike comes frork the North . E* It was caUed Swedisl. Alsike from the district from ^ intrcduced into Great catalogued as a hybrid. ^ - , t, consider it a separate species a as we know it has been athousand.[tj in cultivation in its °wn c0" ^ y, introduction into other lands ■ ^ back to more than a cen my- . ^ clover should be assoc^ted ^ grasses that are not m t ie ^ p0J as certain varieties oi florio and with those of the agr°s ^ and others. Alsike clover is ' ^ ^ these where White clover ^ ^ last thrives with ryegrass, disiri# timothy. With these the le ^ ating Alsilce should ha\ e a ^ conditionS sponds generously to t m ^ ag great » and with White clover tu„ aJ value in the most the white variety, ever , ^ 01ta widely-advertised wild and Alsike clovers ar fhe . the herbage of the^ture. ^ ^ is indicated in piopo an.ee-