FARMERS SOWING LESS WHEAT

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 7

FARMERS SOWING LESS WHEAT

“LITTLE INDUCEMENT OFFERED” OPINION OP TEMUKA GROWERS Some definite assurance by the Government that the price fixed for wheat should be such as to recompense farmers for growing it would be an inducement to farmers in the Temuka district to sow more wheat this year than last, according to those who were interviewed yesterday. As it is, though on some farms more wheat is being grown than last year, on most less wheat has been sown. “Wheat growing is a tremendous gamble at any time,” Mr F. H. Rud denklau, Rangitata Island, declared “There is the weather to contend with, that makes it a gamble in the first olace. For instance, last harvest in this district an early frost struck the wheal just when it.was in flower, and reduced the yield by one half. Then there are the ever-rising costs of implements. transport, the payment of wages in advance, and so on. All these things are a grave consideration to the wheat farmer, and must make him pause when thinking of increasing his acreage. If the Government had shown as much alacrity in fixing an approved wheat price as in stabilising the production of butter and cheese, then there might have been more farmers growing more wheat this year than last. As it is, I believe that very few, in this district, at any rate, aie increasing their acreage. There is not the inducement.” Mr Ruddenklau said he intended to sow about 200 acres this season. Last year he sowed 300. Support for Mr Ruddenklau’s opinions were received from other farmers Some growers had sown up to 100 acres, and were contemplating sowing in spring, but on the whole they did not think they would be sowing as much this season as last, COMPARISON OF PUBLIC GARDENS NEW PLYMOUTH AND TEMUKA The Temuka Domain compares very favourably with the large botanic gardens of New Plymouth, according to Mr G. Fletcher, curator of the domain, who has returned to Temuka ;-fter a holiday in the North Island. Mr Fletcher was particularly imnressed with the magnificent bush in the New Plymouth gardens, but thought that, in the summer, the flowers and general outlay of plots and lawns would appear no more attractive than those seen at the domain. “I was immensely struck with the bush and ferns which the New Plymouth gardens possess.” said Mr Fletcher yesterday. ‘‘l wish it were possible to grow the like here, but I am afraid that the efimate as well as the difference in soil would make that impossible. However, the domain is not inferior in its variety of flowers nor in the general outlay of plots and lawns.” Another feature of New Plymouth which impressed Mr Fletcher was the obvious pride which residents took in their gardens. In this respect they were not unlike the people of Ch~istchurch. Every garden was a picture in itself and lent beauty to the town. VITAL STATISTICS FOR TEMUKA The following are the Temuka vital statistics for May. with the figures for May last year in narenthesis:—Births 9 (8). deaths 8 (5). marriages 0 (4).