USEFUL ADVICE TO GROWERS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13454, 21 June 1909, Page 9

USEFUL ADVICE TO GROWERS.

jn conversation with a re,presentative f this journal last week, a gentleman intimately connected with the grain trade imparted some facts regarding '•ajlid straw" and other varieties of jrbeat, -which are specially interesting i tbo fa ce °f recent controversy j3 reference to the best milling grains. ''It is generally recognised among merchants and millers, -, tho speaker said. *that solid straw wheat is inferior in appearance and , flour-producing qualities to the white and jAirpie straw (fcsc&n varieties. freely stato that it is next to impossible to make bread from flour produced from solid straw wheat alone. It is only by mixing in small proportions that it can be utilised for bread-making at all. Further, this particular variety is much inferior iv ap ! r/i i arance to the ordinary Tuscan, Hunter, or velvet sorts. It is easily recognised by its bleached and thin appearance, as well as by its low weight per bushel. Whereas the average weight this year of purple and white straw Tuscan is from 041b to 651b. Hunter's 641b, velvet 641b, Boraier (a new variety) 661b, solid straw only averages 621b per bushel, lien, again, solid straw appears to be

most sensitiro to continuous rains, and jbis year's seems to have suffered more than the older varieties from mildew, censed by the heavy rains when the grain was forming. Largo quantities have been rejected by the Government graders this year on that account, as not being f.a.q. (fair average quality). "It is generally admitted that solid gtraw will stand up well to the- strong winds, but against that it is known to tafce a good deal out of the land, b«edies being a most difficult crop to hartpst and to thresh. As regards yielding, opinions differ. Some growers state that it does not produce more per acre than the older Tuscan varieties, but that it will yield moro than Hunter's. Fortunately, growers of solid straw in the past hare been able to diijese of their crops at prices on a par ffith the better milling kinds; but this has been due to the general scarcity of wheat prevailing for the past few years. As soon as the world's wpplies right themselves, growers of wfid straw will bavo a different tale to tell. Certainly New Zealand millers will not buy it for milling purposes, wcrshould the London market not bo it will be an impossibility to. dispose of it. "The new Bordier variety strongly recommended by Professor Lowrie, has much in its favour so far as yielding powers and milling purposes are concerned. Unfortunately, many Canterbury growers give too littlo time and care to the selection of their seed. Price, in many cases, is the first consideration, while quality is a secondary matter. Surely the same attention should be paid to the selection of seed grain as is generally given in selecting stock. It has been proved over and orer again that like produces like, and if weeds are sown farmers cannot expect to reap wheat. Wheat graders and millers of many years' experience will tell you that it is now a difficult matter to classify the long-berried and the short-berried wheats, as the two varieties are so much mixed. It is most essential for tho London trade that this should not be, as all purchases are made on the long-berry and short-berry 'standards. Many farmers say they have, gown their own seed' for several years without a change. Years ago it was a recognised practice to procure seed from a limestone country for sowing, on the heavier lands, and tho improvement in tho quality and the production was most noticeable. = "I strongly recommend growers to tdhere to the old , varieties, such as jerplo an 4 white straw Tuscan, redcheff Hunter's end velvet or pearl, and by being more careful, in the selection of their seed they need have no fear that their produce will hot find I ready sale in any part of the worjd."