NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21448, 13 April 1935, Page 22

NOTES BY THE WAY

THE 193G WHEAT ACREAGE There is little likelihood of a surplus of milling wheat being on hand when the 1936 harvest is due, and such being the case the probabilities are that there will be an increased acreage. Moving around the country this impression is gathered from farmers. With clear boards to commence with a crop of 10,000,000 bushels would not create any unwanted surplus, as it is desirable to have 1,000,000 bushels on hand in case of any untoward happening such as occurred this season. Had it not been for the one and three-quarter million bushels carried over from previous seasons to augment the present sparse crop, considerable importations would be unavoidable before next harvest. This would have provided real ammunition for the Auckland malcontents, who can always manufacture an argument to fit the position. In such a case as a shortage, they probably would claim that the wheatgrowers had deliberately depressed the acreage—and even the yield—so that they would have a bare supply and so ensure maximum prices. This argument was actually used by one agitator who "claimed to know" something about Canterbury wheatgrowing. As many of the northern arguments have been blown to the four winds by the publication of a few facts there is no reason to believe that the agitators would drop one that would "go down" with an easily-gulled public. The need for a substantial acreage in wheat is apparent from the viewpoint of the country's requirements, but there are reasons which will promote this extended acreage. The season last year was a very bad one for the preparation of the soil and areas which it had been intended to sow had to be diverted to other crops or sown in the spring, with the possibility of a 50 per cent, yield. That possibility became an actuality. The rains on Thursday of this week, which appear to have been general over the province, will put the soil into excellent order for working, and heavy autumn sowings, ensuring good yields, should result. Another point is that ewes for lamb raising have been at a very high price, and it is known that many farmers have secured only their minimum requirements. Thirdly, there is the uncertainty tit' the British Government's policy on lamb importations. To the large scale farmer tiiese possibilities are not being ignored, and the aggregate result will doubtless be that most growers will increase their acreages.

Discussing the matter of wheal, growing with a S uthland farmer, the latter expressed the opinion that there would be a larger acreage in his province, the quality of the Southland wheat this season show-

ing what can be done provided the wheat is allowed time to mature. THE POTATO CROP The potato crop is turning out much better than was expected. In early February, before the drought had broken, the prospects were for a very poor yield, but actual diggings have shown that the crops have improved. The writer made an inspection of a number of crops in the Nortli Canterbury district

during the last two months, and the improvement under, the influence of the showers that have fallen has been most marked. However, whilst some surprisingly heavy crops have been dug, there has been a number of quite moderate ones, and it might be wrong to assume that the yield is going to be uniformly good. It will, nevertheless, be perhaps a ton to the acre better than expected, which implies that growers would be unwise to gamble on a shortage and consequently high prices. The rather sudden drop in prices indicates that there is a general recognition by growers and merchants that the crop will be a sufficient one, notwithstanding the fact that the demand from the North Island will be much increased this season. SPREAD OF SWEET BRIAR

A pest which has been taken little notice of because of its seeming unimportance compared with the more vicious of agricultural pests is sweet briar. But it is by far from being simply a decorative plant. The writer has noticed numbers of instances of the weed this last few years—and it is spreading. It seems to find its most congenial habitat on the easier hill country, but it is not unknown on the agricultural lands, and it is time that those farmers who have been allowing the pest to spread sat up and took notice. In the south the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act are stringently enforced, and individual farmers here are not entitled to immunity where the general good is concerned. Taken in time the weed is not difficult to exterminate. Effective work has been done with sodium chlorate where the roots can be adequately sprayed, but this is impossible when the plants develop into clumps. The cutting of the individual plants down only means that the new growth comes up as strong as ever. If the plant is given much opportunity of seeding it is conceivable that with our water race system the seeds can be carried far and wide. It was stated to the writer the other clay by a hill country grazier that there was much more sweet briar about since the increase of deer, and he was satisfied that the animals carried the seed about. This particular grazier expressed some concern as to the cfTect of the pest on the hill country if some steps wore not taken to check very quickly the present growth.

The Karl of 'Radnor, a member of the British Pigs Marketing Board, at an important conference recently, said that if his pigs were not doing well he (•hanged the ration. If they failed to improve he changed his pigman. After that they generally improved. On Ihe subject of rations Lord Radnor said he had adopted the custom of making his pigs fast on Fridays. He put them on half rations. The result on Saturdays was thai they got through their food in half the time, and their enthusiasm was carried on until the following Friday, when they got only their half rations again.