FROSTED WHEAT.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15462, 15 December 1915, Page 3

FROSTED WHEAT.

SERIOUS LOSS IX CANTERBURY LIKE LI. DEPARTMENTS ADVICE TO FARMERS. 1 On account of numerous complaints regarding the condition of many wheat I crops in Canterbury thought to have I been damaged bv the severe frost o.x----j perienced some weeks back, 3lr A. H. ! Cocknvne, tho Government Biologist, is making an inspection of the affected areas. To a "Press'' reporter Mr Cockayne stated that it i.. too soon yet for him to give any detailed aecoiu.t of the loss that has boon experienced, as his investigation so far only comprises a portion of the -North Canterbury district. "I am, however, afraid, judging from my at present limited examination, that the lcs.s to wheat growers in certain parts of Canterbury owing to the recent frost, coupled with generally unfavourable climatic conditions, wiil be extremely serious. In one district alone I esti-

mato that quite 3000 acres, out of a total wheat, area of less than •">OOO b acres, will be totally ruined, «o far as j grain production is concerned. The crops badly affected show an alj most complete absence of any development of grain, and they are quite useless for any other purpose than for chaffing. I would strongly advise every wheat grower to make an imme. 1 diate and' careful examination of his 5 crop--. In all' cases where crops 5 should ordinarily be showing; ■ grain in > the milk or dough stage, and are dok void of kornels, they should be imme--5 diatelv cut, and made into wheaten hay." Any delay is a matter of great - importance, inasmuch j ls badly atfectt ed crops are likely to deteriorate 3 rapidly from the point of view of turn--3 ing into dry fodder. So far as wheaten 1 chaff is concerned there is likely to - be a demand for this commodity "from 1 Australia, and at a price that should repay to a certain extent the expendi--1 ture that has been incurred. Morej over, winter feed here may be very > short, and wheaten chaff will be ae--3 ceptab'.e." , One of the most serious aspects of the position, said Mr Cockayne, is that _ many of the worst damaged crops at a casual glance would give one the im--5 predion of beincj quite normal and yielding from to 40 bushels per j. acre, whereas in many cases the actual yield would not be one-tenth of these ~ I amounts. Any farmer -ivho has ex--1 perienccd any heavy frost in bis district and is in doubt whether his crop * i.s worth harvesting for grain or should * be turned into hay. should communi- * cato with the local fields inspector, who I* will advise him on the best procedure to adopt. Mr Cockayne is continuing his investigations.