CROP ALLOWANCES

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3890, 11 August 1941, Page 2

CROP ALLOWANCES

FERTILISER RATIONING HANDLING SPECIAL CASES In an address delivered at Rongotea, the Minister of Agriculture gave two important figures concerning fertiliser rationing, states the Dominion. First, he said that whereas we had used 600,000 tons annually, this year we would have available only 350,000 tons. From this the need for rationing can be clearly appreciated. The Dominion as a whole has lost 40 per cent of its usual supply. Naturally there cannot be a pro rata 60 per cent allowance of usual fertilising because of our receiving 60 per cent of normal supply, because certain needs must be met in full. Hence it is that pasture topdressing is being restricted to 40 per cent of normal. The special needs referred to are, of course, those for crops and new grass sown after crops. The second important figure gave this fact—l4,ooo tons only has been set aside for cases of hardship to be dealt with by'the district committees. This is just 4 per cent of the total supply available this season. It may be seen, therefore, that the district committees have only very little in hand to apportion. The Minister advised that only imported manure was being rationed. He frankly admitted that the rationing scheme "was riddled with anomalies," but it was a most difficult job to find a perfect scheme. Crop Allowances The rates an acre to be applied to various crops have been now gazetted as follows: New grass after crop and for new lucerne: Hcwt super an acre. In the circumstances this seems a fair allowance. Straw crops (wheat, oats, barley, etc.): lewt an acre. This does seem rather light, particularly for North Island conditions.

Linen flax and linseed: 2c\vt an acre. These being of such high importance to a war effort, one would have expected a rather higher allowance. Maize, by contrast, is to receive 3cwt. Peas, vetches and beans receive lewt, as does millet, together with turnips and rape and rape and kale. Quite reasonable are the amounts allowed for mangels, 24cwt; chou moellier, 2cwt; and carrots, 3cwt. Potatoes, planted September to December, inclusive (main crop), receive 3cwt. That seems reasonable. Potatoes planted January to August inclusive receive lOcwt. This is for the early crops as at Pukekohe. The same rate is allowed for onions, nurseries and market garden crops. Tobacco grow-

ers receive scwt, 4cwt is allowed for hops, and 2*cwt for vineyards and orchards. It is apparent that a very large proportion of fertiliser consumption must be used for the purpose as scheduled above, as otherwise it would not be needed to cut pasture topdressing by 60 per cent, when supplies are cut only 40 per cent overall. It would appear, too, that the allowances above listed are in keeping with the full' average normally used. From all points of view, therefore, a reasonably good scheme has been worked out.