THE CEREAL CROPS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 151, 8 April 1930, Page 8

THE CEREAL CROPS

PROGRESS THRESHINGS. WHEAT AVERAGES 31.08 BUSHELS (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The results of threshing operations carried out' during the period JanuaryFebruary have been ascertained from returns received up to March 19. The figures show that 1,750,254 bushels of wheat and 361,919 bushels of oats have been threshed from harvested areas of these crops, the ascertained average yields per acre being 31.08 bushels for wheat, and 38.64 bushels for oats. A table is appended showing for each land district the quantities of wheat and oats threshed, and the average yield per acre in each case. Wheat.

Of the above quantity, 1,337,952 bushels were Tuscan, 252,348 Hunters, 105,286 Pearl or Velvet, and 54,668 were recorded as “seconds.” Oats.

Of the current year’s total 179,012 bushels are Cartons, 57,072 Duns, 5613 olack oats, and 102,222 Algerian. The above figures, unfortunately, do not cover a sufficient area to indicate to a reliable, extent the weight of the aggregate crop. They do, however, indicate that the harvest over its earlier stages was much later than usual. A substantial reduction in the yield per acre was anticipated, and that it should be co.vered by a matter of five aushels to the_acre, compared with the first return of last season, is satisfactory. However, each monthly return invariably shows a decrease —fast season from 36.14 to 34.60 bushels between che first and final returns. Generally che difference is greater than this, but should last season’s returns be taken as a basis the current crop should work out at 29j bushels to the acre. The general belief, however, is that this figure will scarcely b,e maintained, but, assuming that it is, the yield, on the 234,500 acres recorded as being in crop, should produce a total crop of 3,917,750 bushels. A carry-over of 1,750,000 bushels from last season has to be added to the foregoing in estimating'the supply available for the current year’s needs, which represent a total of 8,667,750 bushels. Statistics show that these needs approximate 9,000,000 bushels, so that pn the assumption of a 29$ bushel crop, all the wheat \ produced this season will be needed, particularly as it is understood that the area likely to be sown for 1931 will be larger.

Total Threshed. Bushels. North Auckland Av. Yield per acre. Bushels. Auckland — Gisborne 480 30.00 Hawke’s Bay 7,021 30.79 Wellington 11,729 43.93 Nelson 8,663 20.04 Marlborough 16,724 27.97 Canterbury ... 1,614,973 31.04 Otago 90,492 32.62 Southland 172 21.50 Totals ... 1,750,254 31.08 Corresponding 1929 ... period ... 3,023,663 36.14

Total Aw Yield Threshed. per acre. Bushels. Bushels. North Auckland . — — Auckland ... — — Hawke’s Bay .. 5,386 42.21 Wellington . 3,592 36.65 Nelson .. 1,274 26.54 Marlboroughi . 8,167 34.75 Canterbury . 275,962 37.41 Otago . 66,074 47.26 Southland . 1,464 17.22 Totals . 361,919 38.64 Corresponding period 1929 . 663,291 40.38