THE WHEAT CROP

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21811, 17 June 1936, Page 6

THE WHEAT CROP

USE OF SUPERPHOSPHATE FIELDS DIVISION ADVICE Tha use of fertilisers on wheat is increasing rapidly in the South Island, and during the 1334-35 season approximately 82 per cent, of the acreage sown was fertilised as compared with only 66 per cent, in the 1928-29 season (states a report just issued by the Department of Agriculture). The spread of wheat manuring has been stimulated to a large extent by the numerous fertiliser trials conducted by the Fields Division in every part of the wheat growing area of the South Island since 1923. The findings of these trials have been accepted with confidence by the wheat grower since they have been conducted with precision under actual farming conditions in co-operation with well-known wheat growers. The outstanding feature of the Fields Division’s trials was the big increase in yield obtained from the use of lewt of superphosphate per acre drilled with the seed. The average increase from lewt super in 124 experiments was more than four bushels of wheat an acre, and this represented a profit of approximately 300 per cent, on the outlay for manure. lewt. an Acre Advised There do not seem to be any limitations to the effect of the above! treatment since the returns were equally consistent ,on all soil types irrespective of whether wheat followed wheat or followed grass, and no matter whether the season was good or bad. substantial increases were obtained which justified the department’s recommendation—use lewt of superphosphate with wheat at seeding. In experiments where other forms of phosphate were compared with superphosphate, the latter proved to be the most efficient in all cases. The effect of mixing lime with super was investigated, but positive resuits from the lime were obtained in only a small proportion of the trials. The success of lewt superphosphate encouraged the investigators to try out an increased quantity, but out of a ■ total of 38 experiments in which 2cwt super was compared with lewt, the average superiority of the larger quantity over the smaller was only a quarter of a bushel an acre. From this it was clear that the use of more than lewt of super an acre could not be recommended except, possibly, in Marlborough, where three experi-

merits had given definite returns from the use of 2cwt Conclusive Evidence Having such conclusive evidence as the above, farmers can proceed with the manuring of wheat in confidence knowing full well that by using lewt superphosphate they are generally assured of very profitable returns. Various reasons are occasionally put forward to explain the non-success of any larger quantity of superphosphate, but it would require definite experimental evidence which so far is not forthcoming to justify the alteration of the recommendations of the Fields Division. . These are so simple and clear-cut that they will appeal to every farmer, notes the departmental report. For wheat in Canterbury and North Otago use lewt of superphosphate an acre with the seed; the use of a greater quantity as a general recommendation has so far not proved justifiable. SEED WHEAT USE OF SPROUTED GRAIN The abnormally heavy rainfall throughout Canterbury early in the year caused severe sprouting of wheat standing in the stock, and even in the standing crop. Mr T. D. Blair, of Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, supplies the “New Zealand Journal of Agriculture” with an article on the subject. Many farmers are concerned about the value of sprouted lines of wheat for seed purposes, and the problem is being investigated, but the complete results are not yet available. The following is some progress information for the benefit of the farmers who are sowing now. A sample of sprouted grain was examined and the sprouted grains sorted into four classes; from the most severely sprouted—viz., all with green shoots over |in long—to the least sprouted, where the shoot had just broken through. Laboratory germination of such grain after air-drying and after eight weeks in stack ranged from 58 per cent, to 96 per cent. When sown in the soil, however, the percentage establishment of seedlings ranged from Si per cent, to 45 per cent., where the sprouted seed had been air-dried. Where the grain had been stacked the germination of the seed in the soil was even lower. Undoubtedly no farmer would consider sowing such badly sprouted grain as was used in these trials, and by machine-dressing an ordinary sprouted sample most of the badly sprouted grains may be separated from sound, unsprouted grains. Seme commercial lines of sprouted seed have also been tested. Laboratory! and field germinations werfc lower than! unsprouted seed. However, the fields germination of such commercial lines! of seed varied from 80 per cent, to 88i per cent., and such seed is quite sal-; ufactory for seed pUlfbses, especially if a fe,w more seed an acre: than usual are sd&m. * These conclusions have been reached ; as a result of

early April. When the results of the May sowings are available a detailed account of the investigation will be tmblished.

MAMMOTH POTATOES

A KAIAPOI CROP This is a season of big potatoes. Generally there is a heavy proportion of table potatoes, and where the* crops are sound heavy yields are being secured. Two toots of Dakotas dug by Mr J. W. Elmers, of Kaiapoi, when taking up a 10-acre crop on his farm, will take some beating. The yield from the whole area was satisfactory, in spite of damage done by the flood, but two roots were phenomenal. The largest potato weighed 4m 3oz and the other two on the same root 21b 9oz and 21b 3oz. This yield is at the rate of 41 tons to the acre. Weights of potatoes on the second root were 21b 9oz, 21b 6oz, 21b 2oz, and 21b loz, a yield at the rate of 42 tons to the acre. The crop was given no special treatment and was produced on land which was previously in grass. STUD SHEEP EXPORT AUSTRALIAN DEMAND The keen interest manifested in New Zealand-bred sheep by members of the party of South Australian primary producers who visited the Dominion earlier in the year has been largely responsible for the recent activity in shipments of sheep to Australia, consignments going forward from both the North and South Islands. The activity has extended beyond South Australia, however, and some exportations to Victoria have also been arranged. One shipment was made by the Wanganella on June 4 from Wellington, and another left by the Waitaki earlier. For these two consignments the sheep have been selected and shipping arrangements made through the stud stock department of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd. The Wanganella carried a pioneer shipment of 50 stud Romney ewes for a purchaser in the south-east of South Australia, all of which were selected from the stud of Voss Bros., Karere, Palmerston North. This is the first shipment of New Zealand-bred Romneys exported to this state. Ten high-class.stud Southdown ewes, bred by Mr H. J. Andrew, Maheno, Otago, are going forward to Mr K. C. Sauerbier, The Downs, Kangarilla; also included in the shipment for South Australia are 15 shearling stud Southdown ewes from the flock of E. G. Coulter and Wilson, Palmerston North. The shipment by the Wanganella also included 82 Southdown ewes. Twelve are from the stud of Mr G. S. McLeod, Putiki, Martinborough. 20 are from the Glenfield stud, and 50 have been selected fr |the stud of Mr G. E. Merrikin, Haturna, Hawke’s Bay. On the Waitaki was a line of 100 Border Leicester ram hcggels, which were taken from the flocks of the following • Canterbury breeders: Messrs R. and S. Gunn, Racecourse Hill; P, F. Dolan, Rakaia; J. C. Lochhead, Rakaia; R. Colee, Greendale; and the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. A number of Corriedale sheep are also included in the shipment and are all consigned to agents in South Australia. Mr E. S. Taylor, Glaspevin, supplied eight flock ram hoggets. A stud ram hogget from the Hui Hui flock was shipped to the same customer. Two stud Corriedale rams, 15 shearling flock rams, and 20 stud Corriedale ewes were selected from Mr David Sidey’s Glenovis stud. ' -■> Uruguayan market A prominent ’ Uruguayan sheep breeder, Dr. A. C. Galllnal Heber, who visited the Dominion last year and purchased a number of sheep, expressed the opinion that the market there might be profitably explored by Dominion breeders. Mr James Reid (Darfleld. Canterbury) and Mr William Rayner (The Cliffs, Masterton) towards the end c f last year sent forward a small pioneer shipment of Corriedales and Romneys on consignment to test the market at Montevideo. Advice of the prices obtained has just come to hand, and from the figures it would appear that the venture met with encouraging success. The shipment went forward on the Hertford from Auckland on August 28 last. Mr Reid sent two two-shear stud Corriedale rams and a consignment sent forward by Mr Rayner included one rising two-shear Corriedale ram, two Corriedale ram hoggets, and two shearling Romney Marsh rams. One of Mr Reid’s Corriedales realised 700 dollars (paper) and the other 650 dollars. The sheep were selected by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., through whom the shipment was made. SHOW DATES Secretaries of agricultural and pastoral associations are requested to notify the dates of their annual shows for publication in this column. The following dates have already been notified:— 1936 June 17 to 23—Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Winter, at Palmerston North. June 19 to 23—Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Winter. October 20 and 21—Marlborough, at Blenheim. October 28 and 29—Carterton. October 27 and 28—Poverty Bay, at Gisborne. October 30 and 31—Timaru. November s—Ashburton. November 11, 12, and 13—Royal, at Christchurch. November 20 and 21—Nelson. 1937 v . February 2 and 3—Feilding.' February s—Woodville. February 16 and 17—Masterton Golden Jubilee. March 18—Hawke’s Bay, at Napier. The wet weather of the last few days has interrupted tillage and potatolifting operations. The halt in potato work is perhaps a benen . Recentlylifted crops on the drier land are turning out very satisfactorily. There have been a number of instances in which growers who have sold the produce of a field lifted from 30 to 40 per cent more potatoes than estimated, and distinctly more than was expected two months ago or more. The result is that the market is not absorbing the crop as quickly as it is being lifted, and there has been a weakening tenIdency. The few days’ respite owing to the rain should enable stocks already available to be cleared.