WHEAT AND POTATOES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 17

WHEAT AND POTATOES.

PROS PEG 1 S IN CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, June 5

Reports received irom different parts oi the country indicate that there will undoubtedly ne a shortage ot wheat next season. This i 3 due to two reasons. Une is that a number of tanners finding it unprofitable to grow wheat announced uieir intention some time ago of discontinuing cropping and giving their attention to other branches of farming, which were likely to give them better remuneration, The other reason is that many farmers who intended to sow wheat again for next season have been unable to <Jo so owing to floods and the succeeding rains. May is the best montn tor sowing this class of cereal, but unfortunately last May proved a record wet month. Any wheat put in from now on must be of lower quality. All things considered it is regarded as inevitable that there wall be a shortage next season.

With regard to the potato crops in North Canterbury there is no doubt that a considerable proportion of these have been severely damaged by the floods, but on the other hand a large proportion has turned out better than was expected. It was thought that many of the crops, submerged by the flood waters, would not be worth digging, but while this has been proved to be th 9 case in some instances, it was in others quite different. Hie position has resulted that many crops trom w-hieh the waters were drained quickly turned out quite w-ell. In a number of instances, however, the rainy weather which followed the floods has resulted in a lot of damage to crops. It is anticipated that most of the digging will be completed by the end of next week.