THE RURAL WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23925, 28 September 1939, Page 3

THE RURAL WORLD

FARM AM) STATION NEWS

By RUSTICUS.

|u>ma of interest to those engaged in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, *ilK a view to their publication in these columns, will be welcomed. They should be addressed to Rusticus, Otago Daily Times, Dunedin

SUMMER SHOWS i THE 1939-40 SEASON Summer shows for the coming season have been arranged as follows: September 29,—Southland Horse Par* ade. October 2? and 28.—Timaru. Novemlser 2.—Ashburton Novemloer 3.—Northern, at Rangiora. November 9 and 10.—Canterbury Metropolitan, at Christchurch, November 15.—Kelso. November l 7 and 18.—North Otago at Oamaru. November 18.—Taien, at Outram: November 22.—Otago, at Tahuna Park. November 24.—Clutha and Matau. at ' Balclutha • November 25.—Waimate November 25.—Winton. Decomber 2.—Tokomairiro Farmers Club, at Milton. December 5 and 6.—Gore December 9.—Wyndham. December 12, 13. and 14.—Centennial f Royal, at Invercargill. December 16.—Otago Peninsula, at ? Portobello,

GROW MORE WHEAT APPEAL TO FARMERS SOUTHERN DISTRICT ACREAGES SEASONAL COMMENTS ON CULTIVATION The appeal to farmers to grow more wheat, issued by various organisations, coming as It does at a late part of the season, is especially directed to South Otago and Southland. For it is in these areas in which the greatest expansion of the wheat crop can be expected at this time of the year. In Canterbury and North Otago the bulk of the wheat crop is sown in the autumn, and it is considered risky to sow in the spring later than mid-Sep-tember. In the south, however, spring sowing is the rule, and indeed, with the new earlier maturing varieties which are now available, exceptional yields have been obtained from crops sown comparatively late during the past few years. High Yields Last season, in particular, wheatgrowing was a good proposition in southern districts. Southland achieved the unique record of producing the highest yield known for the Dominion and possibly lor the world. It was 112 bushels per acre from a crop of Cross Seven. Another outstanding yield of the same variety was 95 bushels per acre produced in Otago from a crop sown on October 10. Those growers who gave reasonable attention to the preparation of the land and manured intelligently were rewarded with very sE.tisfactory yields, and crops ranging from 60 to 80 bushels per acre were > not uncommon. The high average yield for Southland, which was 45 bushels per acre, gives a good indication of the potentialities of southern districts for the production of wheat when the season is reasonably favourable. The average for Otago is not yet available, but it can be rightly assumed on the high returns reported by many growers that it will very closely parallel that of Southland. Although the 1938-39 season was more suitable for wheat growing than the previous year, an important contributing factor to the general high yield was the more general use made of Cross Seven. This variety matures earlier than many of the older varieties and Is adaptable to spring sowing. It does not produce rank straw and can be sown on the heaviest and strongest land without fear of it lodging. It Is somewhat similar to Tuscan In the head, and therefore not susceptible to shaking. In the drier inland localities, where the possibility of header harvesting will receive consideration by farmers, it should prove very popular, as it has the qualities that one might suggest for the perfect wheat' to meet such harvesting operations. Cultivation of Wheat Wheat will thrive on a great variety of soils. Good heavy loams undoubt-, edly suit it best. It readily fits in with any system of crop rotation. It will follow roots or red clover, and on the poorer types of soils in inland districts red clover as a previous crop Is an excellent one. It does equally as well following autumn-ploughed lea or fed-off crops. The farmer, responding to the call to take action on the farm front, and grow, wheat, but who did not specially break up old lea in the autumn, should obtain quite satisfactory results by utilising for the purpose land that was in root crops last year. These fields should lend themselves .to quick preparation, and on the friable soils where they have not been unduly tramped by heavy stock a good discing as the major operation, followed with the harrows, will be all that is required to prepare them for sowing. Discretion should be exercised in deciding on the depth, to plough, A common mistake, particularly at this time of the year, is to plough too deeply. ’ Wheat is relatively shallowrooted. and ploughing too .deeply means that the' surface fertility is placed oilt of reach of the feeding rootlets, and the plant consequently has to make the best of the raw soil brought to the top. Apart from this aspect, wheat likes a firm seed bed. and at this period of the year farmers making, a special effort to grow wheat will not be able to give the desired amount of work to the land to consolidate a deep plough. The fact that better growth is often found on the headlands, where the under soil has been consolidated as a result of -tramping by the horses in working up tbe land, is evidence of the tilth required for wheat—that is. loose on top and firm beneath. In all operations in preparing the land this fact should be kept in mind. Seed Treatment Dry pickling with the Mercuric dust preparations such as Agrosan is to be recommended in preference to , the

wet method. Wet pickles unquestionably destroy a higher percentage of the seed than is generally realised, and besides this they retard growth. The dry pickling method causes no loss in germination, but also acts as a stimulant to growth. Varieties for Late Sowing As stated previously, Cross 7 has done particularly well in the south, where it has shown itself to be capable of giving excellent results on medium or heavy soils as a springsown variety. It is a cross between Tuscan and White Fife, specifically evolved by the Wheat Research Institute as a better milling proposition than Tuscan. It does not easily lodge and is not subject to shaking, nor does it produce rank growth when sown on the very best of soils. Its yielding capacity is deceiving, and farmers handling this variety for the first time generally underestimate the yield by its appearance when growing. It ripens normally a few days earlier than Tuscan, but a few days in ripening sometimes makes many weeks’ difference in harvesting. Dr Hilgendorf mentions the case of a Methven farmer who stated; “ My Tuscan is still standing uncut, while my Cross 7 was sold five weeks ago.” , Jumbuck is a useful wheat for late sowing, and, in fact, gives the best results when sown in September. When sown too early on good land it is apt to make too much straw and leaf, and this rank growth appears to affect adversely the yield of grain. It is therefore a handy variety for a backward year. The most rapid maturing varieties in New Zealand are undoubtedly two new introductions, viz., Tainui and Taiaroa. These two are very closely allied, but whereas the former has been shown to be most successful in Canterbury, Taiaroa was slightly superior to Tainui in the south, as judged by the few experiments in which the two were compared. Although Taiaroa has not been tried as .universally in the past as, say. Cross 7 sufficient is known of its performance to give it recommendation as one of the quickest maturing varieties and therefore one that can be sown later than any other. Last season Mr A. Craig, of Greenfield, grew a fine crop of Taiaroa yielding 80 bushels per acre, while Messrs R. H. and J Shuttleworth, of Benmore, grew a crop yielding over 60 bushels. Seed of these varieties is available in southern districts. Manuring of Wheat Practical experience and carefully conducted experiments have shown that it pays handsomely to manure the wheat crop irrespective of whether it follows old lea, roots or a previous cereal crop. Superphosphate applied with the sged at from lewt to 2cwt per acre Is reconimended. Potash appears to be of little importance, especially on the medium to heavy types of soil, although it may be of some value on, the very light soils. However such soils are not very suitable for wheat. Super with late-sown crops gives quicker establishment, and hence earlier maturity. It will almost certainly give an increase of several bushels per acre. The sowing of super at seeding is one of the surest means of attaining increased yield per acre and so increased total supply. Wheatgrowers are to have priority in the supply of super now available. The use of nitrogenous fertilisers Is rather risky on crops sown late in spring. On the other hand, they can be used to advantage on autumn-sown crops which exhibit the symptoms of nitrogen starvation —i.e„ a stunted and yellowish green appearance during September and early October. After the past winter, in which cold, wet conditions have been more prevalent than usual, such crops may be common, particularly in the autumn-sown area of North Otago. A dressing of lewt per acre of sulphate of ammonia applied under these conditions is likely to increase the yield by four or five bushels per acre. Nitrogenous applications made subsequent to the middle of October should be in the form of nitrate of soda. Care of the Growing Crop Apart from rolling and harrowing, the crop requires no other treatment duing its growth. Opinions' differ as to the order in which rolling and harrowing should be done. With autumnsown wheat it is possibly best to harrow as soon as the' ground is dry enough in the spring and then roll. The harrowing breaks the winter crust and kills much weed growth, and also leaves a loose coating of soil around the roots of the plant The importance of rolling spring-sown crops is not so evident, but all crops should be given a stroke of the tine harrows when the ground is dry and growth 2Jin to 4in high. A harrowing is of great benefit to the crop and promotes yields.

TOPICS OF INTEREST OFFICIAL NOTES

The Department of Agriculture desires to notify farmers in Otago and Southland that applications to enter potato crops for certification close on October 3. Applications may be lodged at the offices of the Department at Oamaru. Dunedin, Ranfurly, Alexandra. Balclutha, Gore and Invercargill Certain amendments have been made to the certification procedure this year, and as a result growers should not anticipate instructors calling to collect samples for trial as in past years. Full details are attached to the application form. Any grower who desires to enter a crop and has not yet received an application form should apply at once.

Following on the Dominion president’s offer to place the organisation of the New ZeaVmd Farmers’ Union at the disposal of the Government, for the purpose of doing anything to prosecute the war. more vigorous discussions have already taken place as to how that assistance can best be availed of. It is quite certain that such services will be utilised by the new Council of Agricultural Production in close contact with the Department of Agriculture and the New Zealand Workers’ Union, and no doubt the position of farm labour will be one of the major problems to be dealt with. Whenever the co-operation of the Provincial Councils and their branches is required, notice will be given as to the direction in which they can assist.

Cases have already been reported where farmers are enlisting and leaving their farms. This is not economical at a time when production of the maximum quantity of foodstuffs is required and the move made in the North Island to form local committees to carry such farms on is an idea which would be well worth while branches discussing at their usual meetings. This is a matter where branches could take a special interest as the intimate knowledge of the district which they have available is the main feature in ensuring the success of a scheme of this kind.

In reply to a letter asking for inquiries to be made into the exorbitant cost of revaluation of individual farms by the Government for rating purposes and asking for a statement of procedure in order to make the position in connection with revaluation charges clear, the Valuer-general replied as follows;—“ I do not admit that the charges for special valuations made under section 3 of the 1933 Amendment of the Valuation of Land Act for rating purposes are exorbitant. The fees are charged on the basis of time taken and expenses incurred, and as our valuers are not remunerated at extravagant salaries, and are usually able to share the travelling expenses and time with other jobs, because these valuations are not urgent, we are confident our costs are lower than what any other valuers could afford to charge. We are prepared to give an estimate of the cost of individual valuations, but should an applicant consider our estimate has proved too high, we are prepared to review the amount after the valuation has been completed.”