FARMING IN THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19454, 9 October 1926, Page 14

FARMING IN THE SOUTH.

NORTH CANTERBURY AREA. FAVOURABLE PROSPECTS. WHEAT AGAIN ON NORMAL SCALE [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COBRESPONDKNT. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Wheat-growing is such a fluctuating and uncertain branch of primary produc tion on account of its dependence on weather conditions that, thn season has to be well advanced before, anything like an authoritative opinion can be ventured on the question of area and yields. However, an approximate, idea is more easily obtained this season than usual. The autumn and early winter were exception ally favourable for cultivation and cereal sowing and a considerably increased area of wheat was planted. The, satisfactory prices that ruled, for Australian wheat in August and September also stimulated a fair amount, of 'spring sowing in those areas where seasonable rains can be depended on. Such areas, however, are confined practically to the. downs near the, foothills and to the belt of heavier land near the coast, and even there spring sowing is attended with no small amount of risk. North Canterbury, in matters of a statistical nature, includes all the country lying north of the Rakaia River to the Huruniji, and embraces several of the more important wheat-growing counties. For many years the wheat acreage in this area has represented almost 30 per rent, of the Dominion's total. North of the Waimakiriri River there has been a tendency for this area to decrease more than in other parts of the province, but this is not, the case, between the Waimakiriri and tho Rakaia Rivers. Mechanical Cultivation. The "peak" year of wheat production since 1899 was in 1921-22, wheri a Dominion area of 352,918 acres was sown, of which area North Canterbury was responsible for 95,414 acres. Since; and including, 1923 and 1924, in which years an insufficiency of wheat has been produced for Ihe country's requirements, the North Canterbury average has ranged about 57,000 acres. Last season was one of the worst for many years and substantially reduced tho average. In marked contrast with last season, the present has been one of the best. Just sufficient rain fell to keep the, soil in good working order without interfering with tillage operations. The tractor has also come very prominently into farming practice in Canterbury this year. The speed with which it can turn over the land and do general cultivating work has been a great factor in facilitating tho sowing of tho crop. The. 16 to 20-hours a day tractor in many cases had tho work finished with the resultant benefit to be derived from the. rains while the eight-hours a day team was held up in the middle of it. Favourable Conditions Throughout. These favourable influences were responsible for the early sown crops coming through the winter and into the spring in the best of order. The area has also been extended, the conditions allowing growers- to respond to the protection afforded by the Government in a manner that was impossible last year. In some districts, an increase in the area of up to 70 per cent:, is recorded and in others 40 per cent,., in comparison with last season. Tho three main wheat-growing counties in North Canterbury—Ellesmere, Rangiora, and Malvern —embrace some of the best wheat-growing land in New Zealand, and with the present promise of a good growing season the increased area should ensure this part of the province keeping up to its former standard of just on 30 per cent, of the Dominion's total production, or approximately 2|- million bushels of the Dominion's total requirement of 8-i million bushels. This satisfactory prospect, of course, is entirely dependent on a continuance of the prevailing conditions. Some anxiety developed toward the end og September at tho prolongation of tho dry weather. The crops were looking well, as it takes a long spell to detrimentally affect . their appearance, but there was no reserve of moisture in the soil. However, with the advent of October, a good general fall occurred, ranging from half an inch to l|in. This has relieved all present anxiety and ensures satisfactory growth iuto November. Oats and Barley. Tho area sown in oats is yearly becoming smaller owing to the increase of mechanical power on the roads and now by the greater use of the tractor on the farm itself. The outlet has been further restricted by the importation to the North Island of oats from America and chaff from Australia. One of the main purposes of oat-growing in North Canterbury is to provide green feed for sheep in the spring, and in a season like the present these crops, after being heavily fed off, harvest very satisfactorily. Most of the white oats for milling are grown further south. The city market for chaff and the small export north suffice to absorb practically all the surplus after the needs oi the farm are provided. This season there has been a liberal sowing for green feed, and more will be harvested than usual. Barley growers have not had a very j profitable return in recent years, the price averaging about 5s a bushel. The brewery industry, however, has contracted for a fair area at 5s 6d a bushel, the response being sufficiently free to cause the trade to withdraw the offer. Were it not for the limitations of the market., barley would bo a much more popular crop where it- can be grown than wheat, as if can be sown later, is not so -liable to "shake," is a heavier yieldcr, and is less exhausting on the soil. An increased area has been- sown this year. Fodder Roots and Potatoes. North Canterbury is adapted to root growing only on the heavier lands and along the. downs, where periodical northwest showers ensure steadier growth and j absence from pests incidental to the drier plains. The wet season of last year was more | favourable to turnip growth, and the crops | wore much heavier, providing good foed i well into the winter and in some districts into tho spring. The popularity of green feed for early lamb fattening is to some extent displacing the growing of turnips, and rape is more depended on in the autumn. These crops are not yet sown. The potato area was 20 per cent, more last season and the yield per acre was also 20 per cent, greater. Fortunately for early sellers, tho Sydney market helped to absorb a fair quantity of tho surplus, over 200,000 sacks having been despatched to that port during the season. The local market, however, has "slumped" badly, and some growers are left with heavy stocks on hand for which they cannot get. half tho price offered them three months ago. The new planting season is just commencing and the fact that growers are holding fair quantities of seed, for which they cannot, get a market, suggests that the area, this year will be quite sufficient to meet requirements.