BOUNTEOUS HARVEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 7

BOUNTEOUS HARVEST

BRITISH WESTERN COUNTIES PREPARATIONS STARTED FOR NEXT YEAR N.Z.P.A. Special Corespondent Rec. 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 15. The grain harvest in Britain is now well under way, and, assisted by a prolonged spell of fine, warm weather, promises to be one of the speediest and least eventful on record. Predictions that the yields would be approximately 10 per cent, less than usual have been fulfilled in most of the eastern districts, where crops generally were much more affected by the winter floods, but in a number of western counties they have been heavier than usual. In some of these, yields of 17 bags • of wheat and 16 of barley to the acre—niore than double the avgrager-have been reported. ' Even more important than the favourable conditions for the harvest is the excellent start they provide for autumn cultivation. Large areas of stubble have already 0 been ploughed and extensive areas of early-sown wheat are planned. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Tom Williams, is to address a special meeting of fl?e National Farmers’ Union

next week, when he will give further details of the Government’s plans to make the 1948 harvest a record for Britain. The number of combine harvesters employed in bringing in this year’s British harvest is stated to be a record. Over 5000 of these machines have been used, including a number specially brought from Germany.