DOES IT PAY TO GROW WHEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1515, 24 March 1887, Page 3

DOES IT PAY TO GROW WHEAT

The Chrlatohuach " Prosa " has been supplied wi h the actual 00-st of wheatgrovring on some land m the Malvero district, which appears to show that thore is a fair profit to the farmer even at the low prico for wheat of 3a per bushel. Iha oarcuiation is baaed on the assumption that the farmer does not reside on the land and that »U that is necessary for him to give Is supervision, the work being performed by contract. Taking thu price of wheat at 3s per bnshel giv*s £4 10s per aoro as the grower's return and as will be seen from the figures quoted, the amount of cost comes to £2 2s per acre, being a clear profit of £2 8s per acre for 30 bushels. The only item omitted from the debit side is the interest for a few months on the capital expended, m the shape of ploughing, etc This, however, is but a small item, and does not affect the general result. On the other hand the grower has the straw. The yield obtained m the case under notice la not by any means unnsnal m the Beleoted, and the result showa that with a dry season such as we have had a handsome profit can be made by the growing of wheat. Such being the oase the result shown ought to encourage a larger breadth of land being sown m wheat than h*B hitherto been the case. Wo append the figures referred to : Actual coßt of wheat-growing m Canterbury, m the Malvern distriot, per aore, on a 30 bushel orop. B. d. Ploughing (one furrow) . . ..50 Diaoing twice ..3 0 Harrowing 2 0 Seed .40 Sowing ..10 Gutting, stooking, and staoking . . 10 0 Threshing , 7 6 Carting to station 3 6 Bant 6 0 Total 42 0 Return per aore at 3s per bushel on 30 bushel crop . . * . . . . 4 10 0 Expenses aB above 2 2 0 Profit to the farmer per acre £2 8 0 It wiU thus bo seen that the wheat ootti la 5 1 per bushel to produce, and the price received is 3s, thus showing a profit of 1b 7J par buehel for mere supervision with a Blight deduction m the matter of interest.