PASTURE SPECIES AND THElR PERFORMANCE IN THE WAIRARAPA

Abstract

An outline is given of trials in the Wairarapa of the currently available pasture species, and also of prospective new varieties. Attempts to bleed new varieties specially suited to the dry east coast hill pastures are described. ln spaced-plant trials of ryegrass and cocksfoot, the overseas material was rarely as good as thalt collected or bred in New Zealand, In Phduris, however, the best lines were usually from Portugal and Australia. Most Mediterranean lines could also provide genes for winter growth. Future stages of the project are discussed.