lo Nov-, 1 908. J Culture of Permanent Pastures. 655 



CULTURE OF PERxMANENT PASTURES.* 



\Y. J. Colcbatch, B.Sc., {Agr.), M.R.C.V.S., First Assistant Veterinary 



Offieer. 



In a recently published work on Grasses, the author has summarized 

 his views on the management of permanent pastures in America in the 

 following words: — "Except in comparatively few localities the American 

 farmer has never learned the art of maintaining grass lands in a perma- 

 nently productive condition. This is partly due to the character of the 

 grasses grown and partly to the treatment accorded grass lands in this 

 countrv." Probably it is not too much to say that the Victorian farmer 

 is in very much the same unfortunate state of ignorance. Indeed I fear 

 his position would compare unfavorably even with that of his American 

 cousin. Throughout the greater part of the State the operation of grass 

 seeding is almost entirely unknown, and even in good grass-growing 

 districts, instead of the land being properly prepared and carefully laid 

 down with selected grasses, it is allowed to " tumble down" into grass of 

 such character and bulk as nature may direct. Grass, either in the form of 

 hay or green fodder, is one of the most important products of the .soil, and 

 in many parts of this State it furnishes the only pabulum for stock through- 

 out both winter and summer. It seems strange then that of all crops on 

 the farm, this pre-eminently important one should be so greatly neglected 

 by farmers. 



The climatic conditions here are not such as to render the formation 

 of permanent grass lands an easy problem ; and, no doubt, consciousness 

 of this fact has induced an all too-readv acceptance of failure as conclusive 

 proof of the incompatibilitv of luxuriant permanent pasturage and 

 Australian weather. The question that arises is : — Has any whole-hearted 

 attempt even yet been made in Victoria, or for that matter in Australasia — • 

 to cope with the difficulties that surround this problem? In Victoria we 

 have to deal with the improvement of exist'ng pastures, and the establish- 

 ment of new fields in districts where permanent grass lands already exist, 

 and also in districts where reliance has hitherto been placed solely on the 

 natural growth of the soil. 



In this paper I do not propose to deal with the last problem, though 

 I am firmly convinced that by paying attention to the selection of the best 

 indigenous grasses, by more liberal treatment of the young growth, and 

 by the introduction of plants that have proved invaluable under similar 

 conditions in other parts of the world — Brome grass and Bermuda grass 

 in the arid regions of America — a vast improvement may be brought about. 

 I hope to have an opportunity to deal with this important aspect of the 

 grass problems of Victoria on a subsequent occasion. For the present, 

 however, I would invite attention to some of the chief points to be con- 

 sidered in the formation of good permanent grass fields, and the main- 

 taining of the same in a highly productive condition. The subject matter 

 may be divided into two parts: — • 

 (i) Formation of Pastures — 



(a) Preparation and manuring of seed bed, 



(b) Selection and sownig of seed. 

 (2) ^Management — 



(a) Of young grass, 



(b) Of old pasture. 



Paper read at the Sixth Convention of the Victorian Chamber of Agriculture, held June, 1908, at 



Geelong. 



