70 PASTURE PLANTS AND PASTURES OF N.Z. 



injuring the grasses by over feeding, and the trial would 

 have to be continued for many years. This kind of thing 

 has been done at Ruakura Farm of Instruction in the case 

 of top-dressing pastures, and the results have given informa- 

 tion of the greatest value. 



Temporary and Permanent Pastures. Grass seed is sown 

 with the object of producing either a temporary pasture 

 to last from two to six years, or a permanent pasture to 

 last ten years or longer. In the grazing districts, of course, 

 permanent pastures are always aimed at, but in the agri- 

 cultural areas, it is often considered more profitable to sow 

 mixtures that will last only a few years, but which will give 

 a large bulk of rapidly growing palatable feed ; then when 

 the pasture weakens, it is ploughed up, roots or cereals are 

 taken from the land, and a new crop of grass sown. There 

 is little doubt that where mixed farming is possible, this 

 system of short grass leys is the most profitable, though, 

 of course, even here it is advisable to have a certain number 

 of paddocks in permanent pasture, if only because the fields 

 laid down permanently are off one's hands, so that more care 

 and time can be given to securing the best returns from the 

 rest of the farm. The temporary pasture does, if the 

 varieties are wisely selected, give feed that is greater in 

 quantity and higher in nutritive value than would be 

 produced by a permanent pasture during the same season. 

 But a proper selection of grasses to be sown needs consider- 

 able knowledge and experience. The peculiar advantage 

 of a temporary pasture is lost if any slow maturing grasses 

 are sown in the mixture, and the chances of securing a 

 successful permanent pasture are much reduced by the 

 inclusion of any considerable proportion of short-lived 

 grasses. To secure the best results it is necessary to make 

 a sharp distinction between the two types of grass land. 

 This is contrary to the prevailing practice in our agricultural 



