THE VICTORIAN WHEAT CROP.
(“ FEDERAL AUSTRALIAN.”)
1 It is generally admitted our harvest this season will yield a much better return than was ever obtained since , wheat-growing became a staple farming industry in the colony. In all the principal grain-growing areas the season has been unusually favorable, and the 1 crops consequently have been able to make steady continuous growth, instead of having their progress checked by drought as in previous seasons. During the growing season rain fell at short . intervals in sufficient quantity to provide for the wants of the crops, which have, therefore, made a strong, healthy growth, instead of presenting the stunted and miserable appearance that , they assume in a dry season in all the early ! cereal-growing districts. Insect and 1 fungoid pests have not been so troublei some as usual, though gtasshoppers have dope some , damage ip a few localities, apd ‘‘red rust” has made its appearance in others. These pests have, however, come too late to cause much damage to the crops in the early districts. Such being the case, it is a certainty that ip all our principal early wheat-growing areas the yjeld will in most cases be more than double, apd in many localities three or four titpes, as much as it was last year, In the latter districts there is, as a ipatter of course, at present some little uncertainty about the returns, as growth is still progressing; but, so far, the crop prospects are all that could be desired. Though calculations made at the present time may not prove correct, so far as the late districts are concerned, yet a fair estimate may now be formed of the yield of grain in all the great wheatgrowing districts. The area under wheat in Victoria is, we believe, larger by at least 50,000 acres than it was last year, the weather during the sowing season having been sufficiently favorable to induce farmers to get as much land cropped as possible. The increase is principally in the northern and north western districts though in many of the long settled localities the area under cereal crops has been extended. In ordinary seasons a large percentage of the wheat crops are cut for hay, being too stunted to leave for grain 5 but this season a comparatively small area will be disposed of in this manner. Last year, according to the official returns, the area under wheat was 995,363 acres, while the yield is given at bushels, the average being 9.1 bushels. This aipount for a certainty would be tpore than doubled this season, as po|t only are the crops good in all the early districts, but the area is much larger in many than last year, The principal wheat-growing counties are Bendigo, Borung, Gladstone, Gupbower, Kara Kara, Lowan, Moira, Rodney, and Tatchera. From these nine counties last season were produced over 6,600,000 bushels out of a total of 8,735,410 bushels, or more than three-fourths. According to reliable information that we have received, the following estimates have been arrived at for these counties for the present season, which we anticipate will be found to approxi-
mate closely to the actual returns. In l making our calculations we have duly, considered the circumstances of each particular district, and taken care to base the averages upon the best information that could be obtained. In the county of Bendigo the area under crop is about 83,000 acres, and we -estimate the yield at 16 bushels, which gives a total of 1,328,000 bushels. . Boning county, has under wheat about 235,006’ acres," whicS*” may also be expected to yield an average of 16 bushels and a total of 3,760,000.. Gladstone, may be credited with 70,000 acres, and
again an average ot 16 bushels may be fairly anticipated, which gives a total of 1.120.000 bushels. In the county of Gunbower we estimate the area under wheat to be about 72,000 acres, and anticipate an average yield of about r 3 bushels, or a total of 936,000 bushels. Kara Kara, with an area of about 97.000 acres under crop, is likely to give an average of 15 bushels, or in the aggregate 1,455,000 bushels. The county of Lowan may be set down for 75.000 acres undet wheat, and we are informed that 1 the- crops* are likely to average 17 bushels. This return will give a total of 1,275,000 bushels. Iri Moira the area- under wheat is about 160.000 acres, and as the crops have made a heavy growth, generally speaking, an average of fully x 8 bushels may be safely estimated, or : an aggregate yield of 2,880,000, The area under wheat in Rodney is,,about 87,000 acres, and the yield is not likely to be under 17 bushels, or a total of 1,479,000 bushels. In the county of Tatchera, near upon 30,000 acres are devoted to wheat this season, and an average return of 13 bushels will not be too high an estimate. This gives a total yield of 390,000 bushels. From the districts named the aggregate yield, according to the foregoing estimates, will be in ground numbers fourteen and a half million bushels. This is nearly eight million bushels more than last year. In..tbe other ties into which the colony’ is divided the area devoted to wheat is about: 125.000 acres, from which an average yield of »?? vbushels may be expected from the appearance of the crops at the present time. , At f this .calculation the total yield will be T,7so,odobushels. This quantity added to the other returns gives a total of nearly 17,400,000 bushels as the result of this season’s harvest. It is quite possible that our [ estimates may be somewhat lower than ‘ the actual returns, as many of the crops | promise over 30 bushels to the acre ; ! but when the general averages are - taken we opine that our calculations ; will not be far out.
Our export of wheat must necessarily be very, large this season, and not only will the resources of the railway department be severely taxed to carry the grain to the shipping ports, but there may be some difficulty in getting vessels to carry it at moderate rates to Europe. For Home requirements about 5,000,000 bushels will be absorbed for food, and 1.500.000 bushels for seed, or a total of 6,500,000. Deducting this amount there will be the large bulk of 10.900.000 bushels available for export. Last season the exports from the whole of the Australian colonies to the United Kingdom amounted to only 4.620.000 bushels, not one half of what we shall have to spare from Victoria alone. As a matter of course, in the face of such returns as we are likely to get, prices will probably rule low, but in this respect much will depend upon the American, Indian, and Russian supplies. Estimating the price of the grain to the producer at even three shillings per bushel, the value of our crop represents more than two millions and a half sterling. The value of the grain that has to be exported will amount to nearly one and three-quar-ters of a million sterling, which will prove a substantial addition to the income of the country.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1043, 7 January 1884, Page 2
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1,190THE VICTORIAN WHEAT CROP. Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1043, 7 January 1884, Page 2
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