SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES. 
Progressive dairymen are continually on the search for new grasses 
and fodder plants which show an improvement on the old ones. Other 
dairymen, however, are content to rely on more conservative methods, 
and lose heavily when conditions are adverse. Some of the main factors 
which lead to a reduced dairy output are as follows :— : 
(1) Disinclination to lay down pastures with grasses which have 
undoubtedly proved to be superior to the older ones in 
similar localities. 
_ (2) Neglect to grow winter feed. 
(3) The absence. of one or more paddocks of good drought 
resistant grasses, which are a distinct acquisition in dry 
periods. 
(4) Neglect to conserve fodder. 
(5) Injudicious management of pastures, particularly as regards 
rotation. 
The various State Agricultural Departments have definitely proved 
that abundant winter feed can be provided for dairy stock by growing 
cereals, and that certain varieties will produce much better results than 
others. It has also been shown that a combination with winter legumes 
like vetches or peas provides a much better balanced ration than the 
cereal alone. ‘The value of certain winter grasses like Tall Oat (Avena 
elatior), Giant Fescue (Festuca arundinacea), arid Phalaris bulbosa 
has also been proved. It is to be regretted, however, that the growing 
of such winter feed is not taken up by dairy farmers as much as it should 
be, and, as a consequence, the milk production is considerably lessened. 
Droughts occur throughout Australia at fairly regular periodic 
intervals, and during such periods hundreds of dairy stock perish, and 
ithe dairy output diminishes owing to lack of feed. A great deal coulo 
be done by dairymen in providing feed by growing crops of Sudan grass 
and Elephant grass, and also, to a less extent, by planting Sorghum. 
Planters’ Friend and Amber Cane Sorghum will endure a con- 
siderable amount of dry weather if cultivation is carried on between 
the rows of the growing crop. Sudan and Elephant grass, however, will 
stand even more dry weather than the Sorghums, and splendid cuts, on 
a rainfall of 4 inches, extending over six months, have been recorded. 
Eyen should the season prove normal and an excess of feed produced, 
this surplus could be well conserved either as hay or ensilage. ‘The 
number of silos established in Australia is ridiculously small, in spite 
gr the knowledge that such silos are of material benefit to those who use 
them. 
Pastures appear to be well managed in every country except Aus- 
tralia. It is true that the climatic conditions here differ considerably 
from those in Europe and America, and that the pastures require 
characteristic treatment; but this characteristic treatment appears, in 
most cases, to allow the pastures to remain down indefinitely, to stock 
“up to the hilt” in good or bad seasons, at all times of the year, and to 
ignore such a principle as rotation. If pastures were rotated with 
lucerne or summer crops, like maize, every few years the increased 
amount of feed produced would surprise many a dairyman, and if more 
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