IMPROVING THE WHEAT YIELD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 169, 27 May 1879, Page 2

IMPROVING THE WHEAT YIELD.

Recently His Excellency, Sir W, Jervois, Governor of South Australia, made the following observations at the annual dinner of one of the numerous agricultural societies of that colony " Reverting to the toast, I think too mucli importance cannot be attached to such societies as these. In England, Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere such societies have been established at different times, and great results have flowed from the consideration given to agricultural questions by the members of the associations, In former days, lyaui told, the land around Mount Barker yielded from thirty to forty bushels of wheat per acre, but, unfortunately, the average is now only something like five bushels, or from five to ten, I would ask the societies in the district if they cannot, by their efforts, and by their advice, devise some means by which the land may be restored to its former fertility. You may say, and perhaps truly say, to me, that you don't want me, as the saying is, "to teach your grandmother to suck eggs" and that you know more about agricultural matters than I do. I do not pretend tohave any scientific knowledge of the subject, but it has occurred to me that land, which was once so fertile could be asain restored so as to yield a greater quantity of produce than yours does at present. Surely, you can by deep ploughing, by sowing lucerne on the land and stocking sheep on it, or by other means which your intelligence may devise, improve its growing capabilities. As I understand, the land has been ploughed and sowed for nearly thirty years consecutively, and thero only remains a small quantity of soil on the surface through which roots will pierce. You have hardened the subsoil by surfaceploughing to such an extent that it is more liko asphalt than anything else. Thus, instead of having the roots searching through the ground, and extracting the properties of the soil which constitute, your produce, you have matted roots running over the surface of the ground; and unless the season is extremely favorable,, there is a bad return. The whoat grown in your district lias taken prizes at different exhibitions against the world—(hear, hear) -and I hope you will give the matter j;. have mentioned your serious consideration and that you will be able to discover some means whereby the desired improvements may be effected."