THE RURAL WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7849, 11 July 1911, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD

THE WORLD’S OAT CROP 1 SOME SURPRISING FIGURES. Tlio following interesting article showing the proportions in which different countries contribute towards tho world’s supply of oats is taken from the “Canterbury Times” There are many popular misconceptions regarding tho distribu- 1 tiou of oats throughout the world, and it is to be feared that many colonials look upon the Commonwealth and New Zealand as two of the greatest oat-pro-ducing countries in tho world, while in reality they play but a very small part in supplying tho world’s markets. Last year the world's production of oats totalled four hundred and sixty-nine million quarters, and of this amount tho quota produced in .the Dominion amounted to but one million and seven hundred and twenty-fivo thousand quarters, or, in other words, only one twenty-fourth of the world’s supply. Tho Commonwealth, on tho other hand, produced but little more than New Zealand, the yield of the six States of the Federal Union totalling one million eight hundred and forty-one. thousand quarters. How many are there in this country who consider Great Britain as an oat-producing country? How many would not feel surprised to learn that tho production of the Homeland amounts to nearly fifteen times as much as New Zealand or AusYet these are the facts. Last year the total production of Great Britain was twenty-two million five hundred thousand quarters, against three million six hundred thousand exuarters produced in the Dominion and in Australia. In the Commonwealth, Victoria is by far tho heaviest oat-producing State, having last year yielded more than half the grain produced in the Commonwealth, Tasmania coming second and New South Wales third. The following figures show tho returns in bushels from the various States during tho last three years ;

Tl. C'wcalth 9,185,227 16,247,412 14,754,469 By way of comparison it may ho stated that tiio returns for tho Dominion for (lie same years were as followlßoß, 15.021,861 bushels; 1909. 18,906,788 bushels; 1910, 13,804,000 bushels. When these figures arc compared with those of other countries those of tho colonies sink into insignificance. Tho United States, with its yield of one hundred and forty-one million quarters in 1910, easily leads tho way; in other words, tho produce of the Great Republic amounted to nearly ten times us much as that of New Zealand last year. The great majority of people arc taught to look upon Russia as a cold and forbidding country', largely' destitute of vegetation, with a barren soil On which few plants will grow. Yet what are the facts? In a previous article it was shown that Russia was one of tho great wheat preserves of tho world, whence tho Western World drew almost inexhaustible supplies, and all that was said regarding its productivity for wheat can be said regarding oats. It is second only to tho United States in its yield of oats, the produce of this “barren" country last year having been one hundred and ten million quarters, or almost exactly five times as much as that of the United Kingdom, and seven times as much as New Zealand. How many aro there among tho agriculturists of the Dominion who look upon Eussia as a; serious rival as an oat-producing country? It is to ; be feared that the number is comparatively small, but it la doubtful whether farmers are wise in ignoring tho truths supplied by statistics. There can be no doubt that a close study -of the statistics, which are easily, procurable, would amply repay the. limn necessary to arrive at a thorough understanding of tho world’s markets, as without this it appeals manifestly impossible to form a reliable opinion as to the probable trend of the world’s markets. Another of tho great oatproducing countries of tho world is Germany, where last year . fifty-seven, million quarters were produced, that return having been about the average during tho last few years. , Following Germany the next greatest oat-produc-ing country is France, but how many in New Zealand havh over seriously considered Franco as a rival? True, ite larglo population prevents France from being an exporting country, bub nevertheless it is a factor which' must be reckoned with in summing up tho c/.it-produciiig .countries of the world. Last year the products of French oatfields amounted to thirty-seven million quarters. We are taught to consider the Dominion of Canada as the granary of the world as far as the British possessions arc concerned, but her oat. yield stands below that of France, the 1 latest returns showing that last year the total yield .was thirty-live million quarters, that of the previous year having been forty-four _ million bushels. The following figures will enable the reader to see at a glance the relative positions held by tho various oat-producing countries during the last three years 1908 1909. 1910.

Total ( 408.003.000 493.000,000 469.C00.0C0

WHEAT SMUT REMEDIES'

Tho following it) from a Canadian paper Tho remedy for loose smut isi known as the modified hot-water treat-) meat. Tho seed is soaked for four horn’s! in cold water, when it is immersed fur five minutes in water at a temperature of 133 deg. Fahrenheit. A thermometer should bo held at tho mentioned temperature for five minutes by adding hot water from another vessel. After tho) immersion the grain is dried and sowed. At least three remedies are used to clean the seed from stinking smut beforeplanting; (I) Tho seed is placed in a. basket or sack and immersed for ten minutes in water at 113 deg. Fahrenheit, and then cooled by immersing in cold water or by stirring. As this hot-water treatment and the ono recommended above destroys the vitality of some of the seed, one-half more should be used. (2) Treat the seed by immersing in a solution of formalin for thirty minutes or by sprinkling with the solution. The solution is made by adding ono pound formalin (10 per cent, of forraaldehvrj. 1to fifty gallons of water. (3) Mate , solution of Milestone by dissolving a pound of bluestone (copper sulnhatei in live gallons of water! Immerse ' the grain in this for ten minutes, and then let drain , for ten minutes in a basket or a sack. Spread and dry.

Or the seed may be sprinkled br using one gallon of the solution to four bushels of grain. This is to be stirred until every grain is thoroughly wet, and them let stand for one hour before spreading l and drying.

1503. 1909. 1910. Victoria 5.201,408 11,124.940 7.913,423 K.S. Wales ... 851,776 1,119,113 1,556,186 Queensland ... 9,900 38,811 50.013 874,388 1,280.235 1,209,131 W, Australia... 721,753 739,303 1,243,162 Tasmania 1,526,002 1.946,010 2,547,643

Qrs. ■ U. States .. 100,900,000 126.000,000 141,000.001' Canada 31,330.000 . 44,200,000 55,400, OXH Russia 93,900,000 120.200,(300 llO.OOQ.OCO' Germany 55,800,000 66,200,000 67,200,000 Franco 34,800,000 41,500,000 37,500,000 Austria 15,100.000 18,100.000 15,500,000 Hungary 7.500,000 9,800,000 8,600,OX Eoumauia ... 2.100.000 3,100,000 3,200,OX Spain 2,600.000 3.6CO.OOO Italy 3.003.000 4,500,000 3.C00A0 Argentina .. 4,300 000 3.9CO.QCO 5,000,000 U.K. 22.Jj0.uaa 22.500.000 22,500,010 Australia . 1,148.155 2.030,926 IN. Zealand .. 1.877.732 2,363.548 1,725,5X 0. centres 24,674.115 23,005,625 23.332692