CROSS SEVEN WHEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 121, 4 March 1936, Page 7

CROSS SEVEN WHEAT.

HEAVY YIELDS REPORTED. (Special to the “Guardian”). CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A large number of good yields of Cross 7 are coining to hand, there being several crops of more than 60 bushels, and two of oyer 70, and very few in which it is shown that Cross 7 has been exceeded by Tuscan on the same farm, states Dr. Hilgendorf. The past records, however, indicate that Cross 7 will not keep up this superiority, but that this is due to the exceptional circumstances of the season. The very hot days at Christmas prevented the full development of the Tuscan, while the Cross 7, being a week or so earlier, was not damaged to the same extent. This is, however, a chance happening, and in another season might cause the opposite effect. Cross 7 has less flag and a more upright head than Tuscan, and some unexpected results have followed from this characteristic. First, the sheaves and stocks are smaller and neater, and the crop threshes better than it promises when it is stookgd up. Second, the stooks turn the rain better when there is only an ordinary amount of harvest rain, say, two inches or SO. Third, when there is excessive rain, such as was recently experienced, Cross 7 sprouts more than Tuscan, owing to the closer packing of the heads, and therefore the slower drying. Some extraordinary examples of this extra sprouting have been noted in the Methven district, as well as elsewhere, hut the experience of this year is quite exceptional, and in general Cross I will be a better wheat than Tuscan for withstanding ordinary rain.