THE GRAIN YIELDS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15669, 6 June 1916, Page 2

THE GRAIN YIELDS.

FURTHER THRESHING RETURNS. (BY o<~n A'.!MCri.TUR.M. editor.) The threshing returns, received by the Government Statistician tip to May loth, show that 5.900.453 bushels of wheat and 5.501,276 bushels of oat 3 were threshed out. 'Hie average yields per acre on tue area threshed work out at 21.62 bushels per acre of Avheat and 36.78 bushels per acre of oats. These figures show that only 272,916 acres of "wheat out of ,'>33,233 acres sown were threshed, leaving 60,317 acres stiil unaccounted for. As practically the whole of the wheat threshing m Canterbury was completed by the end of Aprii and that the th re suing returns account for 39,475 acres out of 57,257 acres sown in Otago and 'Southland, it appears as if there will h;- between 40.000 and 50,000 acres to write off for the area fed to stock or was otherwise ur.l'it for threshing. This is in accordance with the views held by many Canterbury farmers. Jf allowance is made for the unthreshed wheat in Otago and Southland, and 15.000 acres are written off, the average for the Dominion works out at 18$ bushels per acre. When the Government Statistician brought out his preliminary estimate of 21.89 bushels per acre, we questioned whether it was possible of realisation, and expressed tlio opinion that the average yield would bp about JS bushels per "acre. So far as one can ascertain from the threshing result received, it would seem that this estimate is the more nearly eomvt. This will produce between (-5,350.000 and 6,500,000 bushels of wheat. Witli the carry-over from last season, it. would appear that the quantity will be sufficient for requirements, although allowance must be made for the large quantity of wheat chut i< unfit for milling. On the other hand, it is probable that a less ouantitv will be required for seed than last year. The follnwin:: j-,- a >wnmary of the Government Statis'.iciau's figures relating to the wheat yields this season:— Estimated si't'a 333.233 acres: estimated yield, 21 P<9 bushels per acre; total crop. 7.300 020 hvshels. _Aren threshed up to April 80th. 272 010 acres: average yield. 21.62 bushels: total who"fc liireslird. 5.000,453 bt:«hn;s; n>'ca unaccounted for as being still to thresh or fed off, 60.317 acres. The thrcrdiinfr returns for oats are no' yet complete enough to give an idea how the e,-on will turn out. Little t»v>t ibin ore-half of the area reported to be sown was accounted for up to the end of April.