FINE WHEAT CROPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 2

FINE WHEAT CROPS

RANGITIKEI MANAWATU DISTRICTS

DR. FRANKEL’S COMMENT

Great satisfaction with the wheat crops in the Rangitikei Manawatu area was expressed in an interview by Dr. O. H. Frankel, geneticist at the Wheat Research Institute, Christchurch, who has just completed a tour of the districts. Of all the wheatgrowing areas he had inspected this season, favourable weather and good cultivation had placed this among the leading ones for high average excellence of the crop, he said. “I have been around here for a good many years now, more or less annually, and I can say quite definitely i hat I have never seen the wheat crops here as good as they are this season,” said Dr. Frankel. “Except for one crop near Feilding, which was poor, I saw nothing but crops which one might call good to excellent. A feature in this district is the spread of the institute’s new wheat. Tainui, and it is doing well. I saw between eight and ten crops of this variety and I am under the impression that this year it will give satisfaction in three directions. Firstly, it seems to be at least up to the standard of Jumbuk in yield, as far as can be judged from an inspection of neighbouring paddocks for the purposes of comparison. Secondly, it seems to stand up better, or to “lodge” < lie down) less, a point which can also be compared by a study of neighbouring fields; and. thirdly. I feel certain that farmers will find that, should bad weather occur before or during harvest, the Tainui variety will not shed its grain as Jumbuk frequently does. Cross Seven Variety. “More wheat has been grown in this •district this season than last and the yields will certainly be heavier if fine weather conditions prevail for the harvest. It is quite obvious that Cross 7 variety did not spread, and is not likely to spread, in this district. I saw only one field growing Cross 7 and this had been headed. It had been sown on good land but returned only 30 bushels to rhe acre. On the other hand, it is quite possible that some farmers will find it a satisfactory variety under their own particular conditions; but, if it is grown at all. I think its distribution will be only sporadic. “I would like to congratulate the farmers of the Manawatu and the Rangitikei on the excellent crops 1 have seen. Their success has been largely due to a very favourable season, but in many instances excellent cultivation has laid the foundation for these good crops.”