RURAL RIDES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 11

RURAL RIDES

SIGNS OF SPRING GROWTH THE WHEAT , CROPS (By H.A.M.) A run round some of the wheat areas reveals that the young crop is showing some sip i of spring growth, although ' the deluge on Wednesday morning will .prolong the clearance of water from many areas.. The rain was extraordinarily heavy while it lasted. In places towards the foothills an inch of rain fell in an hour. Fortunately, the i mild weather since is setting growth moving again. A continuance of the milder conditions for a few weeks is badly needed, as in addition to the demands of the growing crop there is a good area of land partially tilled for spring sowing. A complete cessation of tillage work has been brought about, and in many cases the ground will have to be reworked Most farmers, however, are better pleased that the seed in the conditions that have ruled this last fortnight is still put of the ground. There has been a heavy purchase of seed, so that the spring acreage is likely to be satisfactory.' Farmers at the Addington market on Wednesday expressed their intention of putting in another paddock of wheat when the weather takes up, as the return is not so subject to market vagaries as stock products. There has peen a great depreciation in the capital values of ewe flocks in the last two years. Pasture Conditions

The pastures in early districts are commencing to show a strong green tinge, and it would seem that the. win-ter-one of the worst in recent years —is now nearing its end. There is still the liability of floods from sudden thaws, as there is much more snow on the ranges than usual, and September is not always free from climatic vagaries, but there should soon be an alleviation /Of the acute feed position. There is a general belief that; losses in the high-country of Canterbury will be very little heavier than usual. The snows were patchy, and in some parts indications -are that flocks will come throilgh no--worse than usual. - However, there is a wide variation in the estimates made by sheep farmers, according to the districts they come from. A detailedestimate of the losses on the Peninsula, based on inquiries from individual farmers, supports the earlier estimate of about a 10 per cent. loss. One- flock owner, who. however, has a good-sized flock, lost 350 head, a fair proportion of which were hoggets. The main losses were of old ewes, poor in condition, and in many cases carrying twins. These have been unable, to survive the ordeal. This fact points to the risk of old ewes being Retained for breeding in country subject; to- lack of shelter, and severe snowfalls. Possibly the position as far ! as the Peninsula, is concerned is, that coarse woolled ewes' were scarce last season, i and they were ■kept ■for-breed-ing in preference-to sending them to the market. Sugar Beet Industry Farmers in some districts are showing a<mild interest in the decision of the 'Government to bring out an expert from Europe to investigate the possibilities of sugar beet growing in New Zealand. A sum of £3300 was provided in the Estimates for the purpose, 'and a receht telegraphic message conveyed the information that a Czech authority was now on the way to undertake the work. About 12 or 14 years ago there was a strong movement in Canterbury to establish the industry. Trial, plantings on suitable land in the vicinity of Christchurch had shown that there was no difficulty •; in growing the beet, but that -was the least difficult aspect, although, naturally, it . was the. first in importance. Figures then carefully compiled showed that a suitable factory to turn the beet into sugar would cost £250,000. /The Government of the day was chary of assisting in the movement, as this cost appeared insuperable, or at all events, uneconomic in view of the limited internal market that would be forthcoming. The question of export, of course, was considered out of the question when the product.bad to come into competition with the much more cheaply produced and superior cane ■ sugar; The Department of Agriculture had some hand in. testing out the suitability of'the land for the pur- ‘ pose, also .the aspect, of transport for a central factory, and other phases which came within its ; sphere. Possibly the reports have been pigeon holed and forgotten, as no reference . had been made to them before the decision was made to import an expert to report on the project. There is little doubt that the expert will find coriditions in many parts of New Zealand quite, suitable for the production of beet. It has been * grown successfully in every European ; and many Asiatic countries—from .Sweden in the north to the Mediterranean, and from France to Siberia. But the real • problem is whether. or not the industry . could be made an economic success. .-Experience in England gives little hope of this. Sugar beet growing has been heavily subsidised in Britain for a number of years, and never at any time did it show, any capacity to pay its way without this assistance, The subsidies have been: reduced in recent years, and the immediate xesoitt. ■was a dacltoa vr. ttve production of beets. In 1935, as an instance, the United Kingdom crop was worth approximately • £7,250,000; in ■ 1938 . the value has declined to £4,500,000. Prices of most foodstuffs in the United Kingdom had increased in the three years, and if beet has moved correspondingly it is a fair assumptlbn that the crop last year was little more than half that of three years . before. Whilst this movement was In progress with beet, - crops such as wheat, oats, barley, and potatoes, had increased in acreage. The expert’s investigations may cover the economic aspect, and if it does it should.be a: useful record for future guidance, when the population may be big enough to consume most of the production, but whatever its scope and nature: it is to be hoped that the points raised will be given adequate consideration. Subterranean Clover Recent weather conditions should do something towards restoring subterranean clover stands to their normal condition. The lack of autumn moisture affected many of them very badly, and made them an easy prey to the grass grub. Stands were eaten bare as completely as if the plants had been cultivated out. .However, there have been leases .where' rain and N fertiliser have redeemed the stands. An exElanatiOn of this to some extent may eV that seed' Which, has been -; lying dormant in .the .soil. has .germinated in the moistened conditions. , ; An experience quoted ,on this page three months ago provides some information on this aspect. A stand which to all appearance had been eaten out the previous May by the grub, and was not cultivated, became covered with fathen, arid other weeds. The stand naturally misrred the normal reseeding the followingspring. As Jthe o|;g xajn. i

seedling plants were observed to be springing up in the fathen. The clover was liberally top-dressed and by last autumn was back to full strength. The stand h&d been in for three years and there was, naturally ■ar fair reserve of seed in the soil. Quite a number offarmers have reported that well-estab-lished stands practically went out last autumn. In, some of these cases the grub may . have been responsible, and the incident quoted shows that xeS&yexy is possjfelfc