Hardwood cuttings of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) were closely planted in rows during winter in two successive years. Vegetative shoots produced by cuttings during the first season and by fruiting plants during the second and third seasons were measured and counted. The final length of shoots was related to the time of shoot appearance, earlier shoots (with the exception of fruiting wood extension growth) being longer than those arising later in the season. Shoots originating from buds on cuttings carried 58-68% of the fruit yield at the first harvest, and were the main source of vegetative growth during the second and third seasons. Variable shoot growth from cuttings during the first season resulted in variability in the length of cane available for fruiting in the next season. Plants with most cane were highest yielding at the first harvest and tended to be higher yielding at subsequent harvests. The possibility of increased fruit production through management practices which favour uniformly large plants at the first harvest is discussed.

Legumes oversown onto hill country in Marlborough were compared in six trials. At low altitude sites with northerly aspects, legume establishment was negligible unless resident vegetation was treated with herbicide prior to oversowing. On a southerly aspect, legumes established without herbicide although yields were higher if it was applied. 'Grasslands Pawera' red clover outyielded other legumes at 350m. producing 4.6 and 10.1 t DM/ha on a sunny and shady face respectively. Pawera also produced more than lucerne, 'Grasslands Maku' lotus, 'Grasslands Huia' white clover, alsike clover and subterranean clover at altitudes of 780 and lOOOm, but yields were highest from lucerne at 600m and lotus at 1300m. Factors which may have influenced legume establishment and yields are discussed. Keywords: clovers, lotus, lucerne, herbicide, hill country, aspect, altitude.

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