HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14887, 29 January 1914, Page 10

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

REPORT TO FARMERS' UNION. TBDB PRICE OF WHEAT. A report on fanning operations durin«- the past month was submitted at yesterday's meeting of the executive of tho North Canterbury Farmers' Union by tho president, Mr C. H. Ensor. Thoro were several important matters, in reviewing the past month, to which, Mr Ensor stated, he desired to draw the attention of the farming community. The Government returns of lands in crop should be noted for tho fact that thero is a very eerious shortage in tho area under both wheat and oats. The shortago in wheat was 23,000 acres, of which 1>2.000 acres were- in Canterbury alone. This would mean that witu a 30-bushel crop all round, there will'bo 1,000,000 busnels short of tho requirements for local consumption, It remained to be seen at what price Australia can land wheat in New Zealana and how far local yields exceed the average of 30 bushels for tflo past eleven years. It was a good thing for all farmers to have these facts before them in order to get full market value for their produce. Thero was a decrease of 25.000 acres in oats, the decrease being principally in Canterbury. Given a 35-bushel crop, this would meet the requirements of the 7>ominion, but would leave very little for 4 export. The potato crop was reported to have increased from 23,480 acres last year to 37,!}31 this year, but this increase was incorrect, as tho Government statistician had later issued an errata slip showing that the area should bo 29,160, instead of 37,931 acres. As a largo portion of the potato crop appeared to have been damaged by wet, and there was an appearance of blight, the yield might not bo a largo one. Fat lambs, sheep and wool • were realising such good prices, and labour was so scarce, that next year might sco a further shrinkage iri the area sown in grain crops. Several members of the executive said that the report gave a good idea of tho prospects. There was no doubt, however, that tho yields would be phenomenal. . ~ Mr Andrew said that it was time action was taken by farmers with regard to the price of wheat. At the present time a lot of Australian flour was being hnded at a low pneo. Aevr Zealand farmers "could not afford to grow wheat at 3s 3d per bushel, and he thought they ought to have a standard price, and that it was about timo they went to the Government about, it. Labour, as all knew, was increasing in cost every year. . . ~ , ~ Mr R. Evans was of opinion that the wheat yields in' Canterbury would be heavy, and said that but for tho heavy viclds there would have been a shortage for homo consumption, owing to the reduced area.in wheat. _ Mr A J. Bell was of opinion that soino crops would not thresh out as heavy 'as they looked, owing to rust. Mr Evans said that there were only a few paddocks affected by rust. Ho had been told by a Culverden farmer that his «rop of wheat had yielded ol bushels to tho acre. Referring to the importations of Australian flour and to tho difference in duty—i New Zealand flour sent to Australia pays £2 10s per ton, whilst Australian flour imported into New Zealand pays £1 per ton— ho said that ho supposed it was useless to approach the Government and ask that'tho New Zealand duty should be increased by 30s. Mr Horrell: I am glnd you are turning prolectionisl. We will havo that clause in the Union's platform out yet. ■ •■.•■.. Mr Evans explained that it was not tho price at which Australian ; flour -was sold in Australia, that he objected to, but to the fact that New v Zealand was made the dumping ground for Australia's surplus. Hto pointed out that the freight from Australian ports to Auckland by sailing vessel was less than from Lyttelton to Auckland. Mr to the necessity for farmers being protected from the 'ravages of labour, and stated that an agreement had been, arrived at uetween the threshing mill owners and the farmers whereunder wheat would be threshed at 3id per bushel. Hβ contended that the farmer should be assured of an equitable price for bis wheat, and stated that as the result of enquiries he made during the hearing of the farm labourers' case he found that the cost of producing wheat in Canterbury averaged 3s Id per bushel. Unless the farmer got an equitable price for his wheat he would find it more profitable to raise lnmb. He did not think the executive should ask. the Government to increase the duty of £1. Tior did he think that the ■•Farmers' Union should become protectionist. The report was adopted. MARLBOROUGH. Reviewing this season's harvest, the "Marlborough Express" says:— Various estimates of the worth of tho 1913-14 harvest are current, but even the most guarded judges describe it as satisfactory, while many regard tho general result as the most profitable yet experienced in tho province. A feature of the season is the even distribution of its success throughout Marlborough. The pleuteous rain made for conditions that were all in favour of the higher and drier country, while not really detrimental, though not ideal, for tiie heavier lands round Jjienneim ana at bpring Creek ana iua Jlarina. Thus. one locaiity lias not benented abnormally at Uie expense or another, aud tho aggregate return is in ail' lineliiiood assuming record proportions. Here and there the barley has been discoloured to iv greater or Jess exteut; but tuis'appears to be by no means a wholesale development, fine, bright samples having ueen secured in many directions. 'JL'ne- yields, too, are. being spolien of in favourable terms. It is reported that one paddock near Seddon returned 67 bushels per acre. The market has not opened yet. The oat crops ou ail sides make a splendid show, the growth and the quality being excellent. On iae heavier lands the excess of rain conduced to rankness and flattening, and was materially increased, as the mach-. ines could cut only the one way. Probably this experience will go a long way towards convincing some farmers that the practice of feeding down young oats with sheep has its recommendations. However, tho heavy returns of good, clean sheaves have largely compensated for the extra expense of gathering. Tho Algerian oat having been used extensively, rust has not been a troublesome fsictor. Tho chaff-cutters have been busily at work, and already a substantial portion of the output has been shipped away. Tho price paid to farmers is £2 10s in the stack. A notable event of the season is tho widespread growth of peas. Between 5000 and 6000 acres wore so utilised (lucerne being established simultaneously in some cases), and the output should mean a rich 6ource of revenue for the general body of agriculturists. Practically all the peas have been raised under contract for the seed merchants, and gilt-edged prices are assured. The growing of wheat has always been .i negligible factor in this part of New Zealand; but the small quantity that has been raised is of a first-class description. Xext to the grass hay, hundreds of tons of which were either ruined or greatly redticrd in value, the potato crop was the chief victim of the excessive rainfall. In not a few paddocks there will be a profitable turning-up of

tubers; but generally tho bagging will be nothing to enthuse about. Tho ordinary bligflt has not been in conspicuous evidence, but thero is not a littlo of th© form of disease characteristic of dampness. So far as the damage dono to grass hay is concerned, the splendid growth of "red clover affords not a little compensation. Tho yields of red clover and lucerno seed should count lor a good deal. Tho rape and turnips have flourished and the pastures of all classes of sheep and cattle country aro in good heart. By the way, it is reported that tho Hillersden "Estate, the 43 sections of which will be offered for selection early in March, has not looked so well for decades. As far as the Marlborough, harvest as a whole is concerned, perhaps thero is nothing more notable than tho tremendous output of peas for tho purposes of the leading seed merchants. It is being quoted as a precursor of tho day when this portion of the Dominion will bo ono of the leading seed-raising gardens of the world.