THIS PAPER will describe the role of grassland in the management of an intensive, heavy land, mixed cropping unit farmed in conjunction with a block of light land three miles away. The homestead block of 276 acres was part of the Longbeach estate and was bought by the Crown in 1950. The writer began farming it in March, 1951. The soil is a Temuka heavy silt loam with 5 to 8 in. of topsoil on 15 to 30 in. of clay over shingle and clay. It is extensively tile-drained by the original Longbeach system but still has wet gullies which are difficult to drain and a hindrance to cultivation.
