77' 



As before mentioned, a good water supply is essential for 

 dairying successfully, and so far as I have seen this is to be found 

 principally in the hilly country. Most of the hilly country is fairly 

 heavily timbered and has a good rainfall, but would not pay to clear, 

 and in its present state does not grow much grass suitable for 

 pasture for cattle. Judging from my experience in other countries, 

 I should say that if most of the timber was rung and all the scrub 

 cut and burnt, and on top of the burnt ground cocksfoot and 

 English rye grasses with clover were sown, in a very short time, if 

 not too heavily stocked, there would be a magnificent pasture 

 where the rainfall is adequate. On some of the loamy hill sides 

 where the rainfall is 40 inches or over, other grasses might be used, 

 such as meadow foxtail, prairie, timothy, and both white and red 

 clovers. The lirst year the grasses should not be allowed to seed, 

 but cattle should not be put on them until they have a linn root in 

 the ground. In obtaining grass seeds, farmers should be careful to 

 see that they are reliable. Poor seed is dear at any price. On rich 

 flats that are not wanted for cultivation lucerne and prairie grass 

 may be grown to advantage. When lucerne is sown it should 

 always be sown in drills and kept cultivated between the rows until 

 it is well up. On no account sow Italian rye grass, as it is not 

 perennial, and will probably not be seen after the iirst season. 

 When sowing grasses a very calm day should be chosen. 



When laying out the dairy farm, fence off a piece of the best 

 land you have and sow the grasses that will thrive best in it, and 

 reserve this for your calves and never overstock it. A good paddock 

 for calves will be a wonderful help to them, and even when milk is 

 scarce they w r ill often thrive well in it. See that there is good, 

 warm shelter in it for winter and good shade for summer. 



