Problems of Wheatgrowing.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 57, Issue 2, 20 August 1938, Page 146

Problems of Wheatgrowing.

the wheatgrowers’ point of view FROM the wheatgrowers’ point Canterthe present season in South Canterbury has been one of the worst ever recorded. •' T* ’ „. . ■ \ 4 • Beginning with very dry conditions in the spring and early summer .and continuing with heavy falls of rain right through the harvest period, the weather caused the wheatgrower much worry and expense. This was followed by further rain during the months; when the land was in the course of preparation for. the sowing of autumn and winter wheat crops. : . In some cases growers have been able to get their crops sown, but this has been of . doubtful value,' as many have had their .wheat land flooded, with a consequent loss of large portions of their areas. The question that will be exercising the mind of the wheatgrower at the present time is what varieties are to be sown.: ,

Autumn and Winter Wheat.

: Autumn and winter wheat give the 'best results when sown in May and June. A few crops are sown in July, but most practical farmers consider that, if their crops are not in by the first week in July it is better to leave sowings until August. July is the dead month of the year from ■a, growth point of view. The days are short and cold and practically all'growth has stopped, so that there is no great advantage, in sowing, as the wheat in all probability will lie dormant until warmer conditions prevail. " , : The next point to : consider is what varieties to sow. ’ If it was the intention to sow the Hunter variety and the crop has not been sown, the Cross 7 variety would be the best to put in. The Hunter variety is generally sown on fairly strong land. - This being so, Cross 7, because of its resistance to lodging, is recommended. ' • The wheatgrower is badly in need of a suitable , spring wheat. There are such spring wheats as Marquis and Jumbuck, but these varieties are not altogether suited to all conditions. They are quite suitable farther north, but in most parts of South Canterbury, particularly the Downs wheat lands/, their yield is rather poor. , In the case of Jumbuck, the weakness in the straw is a disadvantage.

New Varieties.

The new variety Tainui is a suitable wheat for South Canterbury conditions, but unfortunately there are insufficient

pure lines on the market to meet requirements. Dreadnought is a variety which is grown fairly extensively in South Canterbury; particularly in the Willowbridge and North z Otago districts. . This variety can be sown in August. A greater seeding per acre is necessary, up to 2 bushels to 2 J bushels per acre being recommended.- The two ;varieties commonly; grown in the spring. are Solidstraw Tuscan and the more recently introduced variety, Cross 7. When sown in the spring, on ' fairly strong wheat land, Solid-straw Tuscan has a tendency to lodge, and where this is the case Cross 7 is recommended. Cross 7 is shorter in the straw than Tuscan, stands very erect, and only under exceptional circumstances will it lodge. It is ' slightly earlier than and has a yield equal to Solid-straw Tuscan. However, it has one disadvantage. If dry conditions are experienced during the early summer and excessive rain follows, the weed growth is apt to grow, as high as The crop 1 . This applies to ,areas where sowthistle is prevalent. One or Two cases were noted last season where this was the ’.case, and great difficulty was experienced in getting the crop into a fit condition for threshing. ; These circumstances were, however, exceptional" and not at all indicative of a normal season. .

Spring-sown Wheat.

' /Spring-sown wheat does not tiller out to the same extent as autumn and winter sown crops, so that, a slightly heavier seeding per acre is necessaryup to if bushels or 2 bushels per acre, together with 1 cwt. of superphosphate. ' Any land that has been worked down ready for sowing will require good, deep cultivation and harrowing, and in some cases a light ploughing with' after-culti-vation would ,be advisable. —C, C. Leitch, Instructor in Agri- ■ culture, Tim ant. '

The following appointments have been made to Rabbit Boards—Blue Mountain Rabbit Board : J. B. Dick, L. F. Jermyn, W. L. Oswald, H. J. Palmer, M. Parsons. Waihopai Rabbit Board : W. R. Cresswell, J. D. Rudd, C. O. T. Rutherford, C. G. Teschemaker. Awatere Rabbit Board : I. H. Cameron, C. G. L. Hunt, A. D. Rutherford, J. W. B. Stevenson, A. D. West. Redwood Rabbit Board : J. Balfour, R. Forsyth, R. G. Murray, W. Payne, H. H. Vavasour. Flaxbourne Rabbit Board : J. W. Kennington, C. D. Mathews, W. J. Marfell, G. Taylor, H. J. Thomson.