FARM AND STATION

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24582, 2 June 1945, Page 3

FARM AND STATION

By “STRAGGLER”

THE WEEK

POTATO MARKETING

The proposal to hand over the marketing of next season’s potato crop to the Internal Marketing Department has caused astonishment to potatogrowing interests. The real job of producing the crop has been successfully carried out by merchants’ organisations in conjunction with the farmers, not an insigniflcent part of the success being due to the financial and other aid rendered by merchants to growers, an outlay that is recouped only in many cases when the crop is marketed. It can scarcely be that the department is so satisfied with its efforts in the marketing of vegetables and fruit that it is sighing for fresh fields to conquer, and that the important industry of potatoes presents a good opportunity for further effort. Private enterprise had already successfully performed 90 per cent, of the job of raising the commodity, and the simple marketing end should present no obstacles. The efficiency of the production side as conducted by the growers and their various firms may be instanced from the fact that the area grown in 1944 was 27,000 odd acres, as against 18,000 to 19,000 in the early years of the war. The merchants are not getting such a fat return out of the business that they could be expected to devote their resources and assistance to production if some organisation took control of the marketing. Apart from the aspect that this is a time when controls should be nearing the elimination point rather than being extended, the experience of Ministers themselves should suggest to them that the Internal Marketing Department has few friends amongst the farming community. That fact could have serious repercussions in the case of potato production, as there are still three or four months to run before the crop it is proposed to handle will be planted. The response of growers could be adversely affected by a change which to them has no justification. It is certain that wheat will be scarce after next harvest, and also milling oats, and potatoes may be required more than ever to compensate for these shortages. Had it not been for the 50 per cent, increased acreage this season, there would have been a disastrous shortage of potatoes in the country. It would be rank mismanagement to discontinue a scheme which has yielded such outstanding results for one that has a dubious record of success behind it.

SPRING-SOWN WHEAT

An article on this page on the need of an extension of the wheat acreage taken from the leading columns of the “Dominion,” Wellington, indicates a welcome awakening of intere'st in the North Island on the urgency of the wheat position. In presenting the difficulties confronting the autumn sowing of crops in Canterbury, as a result of the weather, the newspaper states that it “now seems fairly certain that if the Dominion is to produce anything like the quantity of wheat required hope must be centred on spring sowings/’ This is unfortunately too true, and the alternative of spring sowing has been brought appreciably nearer by the wintry bursts of this week. The rainfall figures so far this year provide a line on this aspect. For the five months to May 31 the fall is only a few points short of 20 1 inches, compared with 14J inches in the corresponding five months of last year, which was also a period of considerably more than normal rainfall. Even with a very dry winter and spring it would seem that the 1945 rainfall in the province will be about a record. Dependence on heavy spring sowings in Canterbury, as is implied in the Wellington paper’s article, is based on a hope rather than on a prospect. Under the most favourable circumstances spring sowing could not be expected to supply anything like the needed acreage. Favourable factors may be that the soil should be in excellent condition for sowing in the spring, and much land may require less cultivation in cases where it has been already partially cultivated for wheat. Combined with the much better price, these reasons may cause a heavier spring sowing than usual, and in Southland and South Otagq, where the crops are spring sown, may also extend their effort, but if spring sowing is to solve the problem there is only one part of the Dominion- where it can be applied in a worth while manner. That is the southern end of the North Island. The latest statistics just to hand show that the North Island wheat area in 1944 has slipped to 8562 acres from 14,460 the year before; that of Wellington province to 6328 acres from 10,654. The scope to step up this acreage would be a useful subject for stressing at present. There is plenty of time still for farmers to prepare for spring sowing, the price is 6d a bushel higher than in the South Island, and the- difficulties of harvesting in the North Island have rarely been comparable in their severity with those besetting the autumn wheat sower last season in some parts of the South Island. * The deterioration of large areas of grass pasture in the older settled parts of the North Island has developed remarkably in the last decade. There has never been a better opportunity of securing its restoration so economically or so efficiently as by the taking of a white crop from the land. That is the purely utilitarian aspect. The more important aspect at the moment is that a national service of the greatest importance would be rendered.

THE SEASON

.The winter season was ushered in yesterday with a day more like the commencement of spring or of September rather than of June. The records show that this is not unusual, and observers support the claim. One who has closely noted the climatic conditions in this part of the province in the last 20 years claimed to the writer that almost invariably in the first week or 10 days of June the weather is dry and free of storms.. As this forecast was made four or five days ago, the prophet started off well. The sting Of his forecast, however, lies in the mil The last week of the month is generally bad. The records support the first part of the claim fairly well. In the first three weeks of last June only a little more than an inch of rain fell, but in the last eight days just on an inch. July recorded another inch and a half, bringing the total for the first seven months of last year to two inches less than the total for the first five months of this year. Heavy rainfall in September last year gave a jump to the figures. Last year, however, was one of substantially more than normal precipitation, and a comparison of the figures for the first five months of 1943 gives a better idea of the amount of moisture this season. As against this year’s fall of 19.85 inches to the end of May the amount in 1943 was 8.91 inches. By the end of August in 1943 the fall was 17.21 inches, or two and a half inches less for the two months longer period than this year. , Moisture is the main factor in big oroduction in Canterbury, but the benefit is reduced when it is badly distributed, as during this year. But it is much better to have had the rain than have to wait on it. When a dry spell does come the soil should be in great order for germinating seed and stimulating growth in the essential early stages, and for securing a quick response in grass and other _ growth. The ranges are heavily clad with snow for the beginning of June, a condition ensuring a supply of moisture over much of the province when the benefits of the precipitated moisture are on the decline.

CUT POTATO SEED

A probability of a scarcity of potato seed for the extended acreage planned two years ago raised discussion as to the suitability of cut table potatoes for seed use. Cutting seed was a general practice 40 or 50 years ago in the Dominion, and it was something of a sur-

POTATO “BLIGHT”

THIS SEASON’S CAUSES

SPRAYING PRACTICES OVERSEAS

Victims of the “blight” visitation to potato crops this season were generally at a loss to determine the cause of the trouble. In its early stages, just as the crop was coming to maturity, the rapid decay of the tops suggested blight, but as time went on a substantial proportion of the crops cfeme to maturity and were lifted with no more ill-effect than a preponderating proportion of seed-sized potatoes and few table potatoes. Other crops, again, died right off, and the tubers rotted. Northern Ireland Methods An informative article appeared in the December issue of “Agriculture’’ (the journal of the British. Ministry of Agriculture) on Farming in Northern Ireland, the most closely settled farming area in the Empire. One hundred acres there is regarded as a comparatively large farm, nearly half the country being comprised of holdings of less than 50 acres, and nearly all owner-occupied as a result of the Irish Land Acts. Production of potato seed for export is one of the main agricultural activities, and the methods of blight prevention are worth attention. “It is interesting to note,” says the article, “that spraying with Burgundy mixture to keep blight off the tops is a routine practice. Generally two sprayings are applied, but in wet seasons often three. The aim is to keep the tops completely free of blight until the crop reaches the stage when the bulk of the potatoes are of regulation seed size. At that stage the common practice of growers is to kill the tops by spraying with a mixture of copper sulphate and sulphuric acid in water. This prevents further growth and at the same time ensures that there are no tops left for blight to infect. This reduces to negligible proportions the possibility of blight infecting the tubers and causing rotting during storage. The crop is ready for lifting within 10 to 14 days after the killing of the tops—a period which allows time for the skin of the potatoes to harden.” The average annual rainfall of Northern Ireland is 35in, and the article states that in a wet climate such as this at least one cleaning crop has to he taken in the rotation if weeds are to be kept under control. Potatoes always have been and still are the principal cleaning crop— they occupy over six times as much ground as all the other green crops put together. In a wet season in Canterbury rainfall conditions are not dissimilar to those in Northern Ireland, and the practices there could be worth studying in a season such’ as the one this province has just passed through. It would be better to ensure a seed crop than no crop at all.

DAILY THRESHING OUTPUT

ENGLISH AND NEW ZEALAND COMPARISON

The “Farmer and Stockbreeder" (England) ot March 6 has an interesting article on the relative threshing outputs under English and New Zealand farming. The article says that sons of Dominion farmers serving with the forces in Great Britain have often criticised England’s slow threshing methods. A correspondent who had a New Zealand airman staying with him said he expressed great incredulity when this young man spoke of threshing up to 1000 bushels a day by his father’s outfit. A letter was written to the young man’s father at Canterbury, New Zealand, who was amused at the argument “You were quite right," he says, “when you stated that if we do not thresh 1000 bushels a day it is a poor day.” He goes on: “Jhe best run over a period was for a farmer at Hawarden. I threshed for him 500 acres of wheat which yielded 22,000 bushels. This work was finished in a fortnight, taking approximately-, 120 hours to dp, which works 4 out about 180 bushels an hour. ■ “The best single day’s output 1 can bring to mind was on the above run, when I threshed 2200 bushels in 10 hours. The best yielding paddock of wheat was for a Mr Robinson, of Coldstream, 50 acres of Victor, which yielded 99 bushels an acre. . “These periods were in a season just at the start of the first world war. In that year we were running two threshing plants. One finished the season with 135,000 bushels to its credit, and the other 130,000 bushels. It would be difficult in these seasons to obtain these quantities.” The English says threshing in England becomes a more and more expensive job, with lower and lower output, and he asks whether something cannot be done to approach the 1000 bushels a day achieved in New Zealand Years ago it used to be said that 480 bushels of wheat was a fair daily outturn (in England), but the figure is much less to-day. [One hundred quarters of oats or 60 of wheat is usually considered to be a satisfactory day’s output in this country for a team of 14 workers, adds the editor in a footnote.] ... - An illustration shows the type■ of plant in action which put through 1000 bushels a day. The outfit is typical of that in general use 25 or more years ago. It was driven by a Fowler traction engine, and was threshing from the stack, there apparently being two men forking to a third, forking to the board, the fourth the bandcutter, and a fifth feeding.

prise to learn of the criticism of or disbelief in the practice when the%>roposal was advanced. However, the Weekly News Service” of the British Ministry of Agriculture has a pertinent note on the matter and offers advice on all fours with earlier practices here. Because of the present scarcity of seed potatoes in England, permission has been given for the sale for planting of ware (table) potatoes from certified stocks, states the article. Unless such large seed .is cut it is not likely to go far, and if a “gappy" crop is to be avoided certain rules must be borne in mind (1) Only healthy stocks should be cut. Discard all partly rotten tubers and do not cut a stock containing much dry rot. (2) Cut the tubers lengthwise, especially the longer sorts, so that a portion of the rose end is on each piece. Cutting is easier if the tubers are sprouting, as it can then be seen that a couple of good strong eyes are present on each piece. (3) Cut in a warm place in the shade and cover the cut tubers at once with wet sacks until they are wanted for planting. Never let them get dry. (4) Do not put cut tubers’in big heaps or sacks, as they may overheat; shallow layers are best. (5) Plant as soon after cutting as possible, cut side down, in a moist drill. It is best, if possible, only to open up enough drills for the morning planting and to make fresh ones for the afternoon. If these rules are carefully followed there is no reason why success should not be obtained even with varieties which have a reputation for not tolerating cutting, says the article. The essential points are not to let either the cut tubers or the drill get dry.

The benefit derived by light classes of land from subterranean; clover crops is to be seen in the recent experience of a farmer in the Fairhajl district, states th "Marlborough «Exprtss.” A paddock of subterranean clover, overgrown with grass and weeds, was ploughed and sown down in Cross 7 wheat, with lewt of super to the acre. The resultant crop was an excellent one for the type of land, averaging 42 bushels to the acre. The paddock, which was left in the stubble after heading, received no further attention, and this season a heavy crop of good subterranean clover made its appearance. The yield averaged out at two bags of seed an acre, which on the basis of £6O an acre for seed, is a fairly remunerative return, especially as there was no cost in sowing the crop..

WHEAT APPEAL

NORTH ISLAND OPINION

REVIEW OF LABOUR URGED

Recent heavy rainfall in the chief grain-growing districts of the South Island, states the “Dominion,’’ Wellington, has created serious prospects for the Dominion. The greater part of the wheat grown in Canterbury is autumn-sown, and continued wet weather has made it almost impossible for farmers to get ahead with the work of preparation. Last week a southern newspaper mentioned instances where men, who usually v devoted 100 to 120 acres to wheat, have thus far been able to prepare only from 13 to 20 acres. The wet weather has most adversely affected the heavier lands, from which the larger crops are obtained. Throughout the last two or three months the ground has been so sodden that the preparation of the seed bed has had to be postponed, and the recent deluge will make it almost impossible for- the farmers to get their wheat in. They have another five or six weeks at the outside, so that, unless there is a spell of good weather, the area under autumn-sown wheat this year may be substantially below the average of previous years. , The delay has not been so marked on the lighter soils, and the preparatory 'work has gone ahead. Last season, when conditions were favourable, the crops from the lighter lands were very satisfactory, and they may be again this year, but it now seems certain that, if the Dominion is to produce anything like -the quantity of wheat required, hope must be centred on spring sowings. It is a course which the men on the land do not favour, but this year, unless a very marked improvement is recorded at once, they , may have no option in the matter. i There can ‘be .no question as to the urgency of the Dominion’s requirements in the matter of wheat, and it would be unfortunate if,. at a time when the strain on shipping for the Allied war effort in the Pacific was at its maximum the Dominion should have to ask for the diversion of vessels to bring large shipments of the cereal to this country. , For some lime past the Government has been appealing to farmers to grow more wheat in order to assist in meeting an anticipated world need. The president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand has been visiting Canterbury and has urged that everything possible should be d°ue to increase the area under wheat. His assurance that military labour would be available for harvesting was. apparently, received with some doum, but as things are, with the countrydepending upon spring sowing, the Government should make it convincingly cleat that labour will be a^ to harvest every square yard. The whole position should be reviewed. The tune lost, through continued wet weather, will make it necessary to push forward the work as rapidly as possible and no plant should be idle f°r jMk skilled labour to operate it. Given the necessary assurances and co-ooep.tion it is just possible that the yield in the coming season will not fall far short of expectations. For the moment, however, climatic conditions are the vital factor with respect to toe nexx season’s crop.

YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUBS’

USEFUL INSTRUCTIONAL ORGANISATION

After a restriction of- toeir activities because of the war, the Young Farmers’ Clubs are again taking up the work bn the scope interrupted before the outbreak of hostilities. No movement is more deserving of the supnort of tiie farming community than fhese clubs Initiated about 12 years ago in Otago, the movement spread so rapidly that immediately before the war a chain of 208 clubs was in existence in New Zealand, with an active membership roll of more than WOO and approximately 1000 honorary and advisory members. In spite of the many difficulties experienced toe movement has carried on during the war period, and, with the core of its organisation thus maintained, toe stage is now set for the revival of ite activities in all parts of toe eountry. Canterbury has always token a major part in the development of toe clubs and in the formulation of policy. At the moment there are, in aU, 27 clubs in the area covered by the Canterbury ■ Council of Young Farmers Clubs. It is hoped that this number will be increased to 50 within the near future. . . ... Membership is open to all youths between the ages of 14 and 30 years. For the average young man in me rural community there exists a definite gap between the school a leaving age and the age at which he is ready to take on the responsibilities of citizenship. The clubs help to bridge this gap and provide him with the opportunity of availing himself of the knowledge of the expert and theexperience of the practical farmer. They aim at the development of the .qualities of leadership and of the spirit ox initiative and self-reliance, at the promotion of agricultural education, the encouragement of social and recreational activities in the rural, community. and through the conduct of meetings and the affairs of the movement, the development of public speaking, and the. appreciation of the right’ and responsibilities of a citizen in a democracy. Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the Canterbury Council was held this week and was attended by delegates from North, Mid, and South Canterbury. Officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows: —chairman, Mr J. Barclay (Waimate); vice-chairman, Mt D. Hurford (Leeston); delegates from district committees: South Canterbury, Messrs R. S. France, P. Temple, W. Grotty; Mid-Canterbury, Messrs A. W. Bennett, R. J. Low; Christcnurch, Messrs B. K. Wagner, B. E. Jarman; co-opted members, Messrs L. W. McCaskill, S. A. La Roche, A. Grant, H. L. Chisnall, J. Little, H. G. Stephens, T. E. Streeter, J. W. Earl; delegates to Dominion executive, Messrs J. Barclay, D. Hurford. R. S. France, S. A. La Roche; delegate to Reclamation Board, Mr S. A. La Roche.

BUTTER-FAT COMPETITION

MIDLAND-CANTERBURY club Prizes in last season’s butter-fat competition, ending December 31, conducted by the Midland-Canterbury Jersey Cattle Club, were presented at the annual meeting as follows:*C.O.R.;—J. T. Prosser’s Rosendale Bella, 711.631b fat; qualifications necessary, 347.41b; amount of fat over and above, 3641b, 1. J. T. Prosser’s Rosendale Cheeky, 5381b fat; qualifications necessary, 3601b; amount of fat over and above, 1781b, 2. . O H.T.:—A. E. Brown’s Sandown Lola, 5241b. fat; qualifications necessary, 3601b: amount of fat over and above, 1641b 1. Mrs F. W. Guinness’s Farmleigh Pride, 412.521b fat; qualifications necessary, 2691b; amount of fat over and above, 1431b, 2. Officers were elected as follows: — Vice-president, Mr L. D. Adams (Sheffield); general committee; Messrs C. H. Watson, J. T. Prosser, P. J. Dulleu, D. N. H. Watson, and R. J. Gilbert: auditor, Mr O. Cock.

Farmers in the Marlborough Province are increasing their wheat acreage, and a fear has been expressed that seed wheat will be found in short supply. A dry period up to a fortnight ago caused a hold-up in sowing, but useful rains set in and sowing has been carried on actively during the last 10 days. Another satisfactory report—in Canterbury—is that the heavy rains of last week-end did not reach as far inland as was suggested by the coastal deluge, and in some of toe more prominent wheatgrowing districts towards the hills there was little interruption of tillage and sowing operations.