WHEAT HARVEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 14

WHEAT HARVEST

NEW SEASON'S PROSPECTS HIGH QUALITY OF SAMPLES BETTER THAN A YEAR AGO [BY TELEGHAfHI OWN CORRESPONDENT! TIMAKU, Thursday The first samples of the new season's wheat were received by a Timaru miller to-day. Two samples came to hand, one from Dromoro and one from Chertsey, and they ware in splendid order for milling. This summer the initial samples have come to hand fully three weeks earlier than was the case last summer, and the condition of the wheat is much better than 12 months ago. The probable yield is still a. matter of conjecture, as is the question whether there will bo a Dominion shortage of wheat this year. The wheat census taken on November 30, 1934, showed a total of 4,028,062 bushels in stock in New Zealand, as against 3,891,706 bushels at tho corresponding time in the previous year. Tho New Zealand acreage under wheat this year is 228,600, compared with 294,992 acres last season. Over tho last 10 years tho average yield per aero has been 32 bushels, and on this basis the present acreage should yield i ,315,200 bushels. Discussing the position with an expert a reporter was informed that if the yield this season did not average moro than 30 bushels an acre there would bo a shortage of supply. To the estimated yield of 7,315,200 bushels had to be added the 1,250,000 bushels which the Wheat Purchase Board had in store. The outcome of the harvest was very problematical, because in South Canterbury many crops had suffered from tho variable weather and the north-westerly winds of the present week would probably result in a good deal of shrivelled wheat. On the other hand, expectations in other centres were fairly good.