WHEAT AND MAIZE GROWING IN NORTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22202, 20 September 1937, Page 5

WHEAT AND MAIZE GROWING IN NORTH ISLAND

tj the editor of im >’ress. Sir. —The following is a copy of a rcplv to a letter sent to the H .on. D. G. Sullivan on wheat and maizc-grow. fug in the North Island. As it is interesting to wheatgrowers.. I am forwarding it for publication.-Fiom Department of Scientific and IndusU un R vour letter of August 19 has been referred to me, the sccrotaij. for further comment. I lake it that your suggestion is that it would be a good idea to have a thorough in\cstigation into the suitability of the North Island in different parts fo cereal cultivation, maize as well as wheat. The position appears to be that generally speaking the North Island may he 'regarded as an area which is climatically difficult for cereal production, and it is probably not easy for one who has not attempted cereal growing in the north to appreciate this fully. _ "Out of a total New Zealand acreage of 250.000, of wheat, there are only about 5000 grown in the North Island, and almost the whole of that ini the drier portions, such as Wanganui. Marton. Bulls-Fieldmg area, and in the vicinity of Masterton. In these districts the climate is such as to provide reasonably good weather during fflne growing period and for hai vesting. Even so. onlv such varieties as are particularly resistant to fungus diseases, such as rust and smut, can be produced in these districts. “Furthermore, in the North Island many of the soil types do not hold the reserve of plant food which is required for the production of an economical yield of grain, A great many of the soils are shallow and hold no accumulated stores of fertility, though capable of growing excellent grass, assisted by heavy top-dressing. In the wheatgrowing districts, the soils arc generally of a heavier character, and resemble, to some extent those of the wheal lands of England. “There is no doubt wheat could be grown in a great many districts of the North Island, for originally it was grown in the Bay of Islands, in the Franklin County, and in portions of the King Country. However, to-day farmers are likely to secure very much better returns from dairying, sheep and cattle raising, and consequently some difficulty would be experienced in attempting to re-establish wheatgrowing in many areas where once it was practised. “With the development of the poultry and stock industries, a stage may be reached when cereals suitable for stock feed could be profitably grown. With both oats and wheat one of the main difficulties arises from the poor yields of grain consequent on heavy infestations of rust. In the case of maize, climatic conditions outside the Bay of Plenty and Poverty Bay. generally speaking, do not permit of the grain reaching maturity prior to the autumn frosts, and attempts are now being made to try out early maturing varieties of maize, which may prove satisfactory to the western portions of the North Island.”—Yours, etc., GEORGE McCORMICK. September 17, 1937.