The value of strains of ryegrass in Canterbury

Abstract

Canterbury is recognised as one of the main cropping areas in the Dominion and the climate and soil conditions are particularly suited for this type of farming. Nevertheless, the greater part of the land is in pasture. Of the 2¾ million acres of cultivated land, 1¾ million acres are in grass over two years old, and about ¼ million acres are sown down in new grass each year. Cereals and pulse crops occupy about 6 million acres and fodder crops about 1 million acres. The 9 million of crops are sown in rotation with pastures which remain down from 2 to 10 years or so, and the young grass is sown at the end of a cropping programme. Fat lambs are the chief source of revenue from the grazing of the pastures. Owing to climatic conditions these pastures fail to provide the necessary feed at two period's; namely in winter and early spring as 'a result of low temperatures, and in summer and early autumn as a result of drought. It is necessary then, to provide the supplementary feeds for, these two periods. Turnips, hay, chaff, greenfeed, oats and Italian ryegrass for - the winter and early spring, and greenfeed, rape, soft turnips, etc. for summer and autumn periods. These supplementary feeds are essential, but they are costly to grow so,that any feed which can be secured from pastures at these times will lower the cost of producing supplementary feeds and will be more valuable than a heavier production during the periods, when feed is plentiful.