WHEAT SHORTAGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 8

WHEAT SHORTAGE.

\ , In reference to a report from Dunedin '-.- that there has been a rise in the price ■ of flour -'of-'-, ten shillings a ton, it was } stated in Wellington yesterday that no i move had been mado on tho local marj; 'ket. Tho' increase is considered to be !■■ . dne to a shortago in'wheat in tho south. i It was,thought at one time during the ;.. : v«ry dry weather that nearly the whole s of the wheat crops down south would : be ruined, but rain camo in time to save ; them. ..-.,- ; GRASS GRUB IN THE SOUTH. A telegram published yesterday stated that the grass grub was doing damage in p Sonth Canterbury. The following, from . tho Ashburton "Guardian" also con'tains : reference'.to the grub:— ■ ! "In conversation with a number of farmers one of our reporters ascertained ; that a .very'large acreage, of land in the ! .county, has already been ploughed, and •in those parts where tho grass grubs are not numerous a large quantity of wheat had been sown under very favourable circumstances. One farmer said that small birds wero very.Tfctriictivo in pulling up ■ tho young grain plants .when thev were breaking through tho surfaco of 'tho ground, the chief offenders being larks. Another farmer remarked that a large proportion of the grass grub arc now lying dormant in tlie soil, and consequently they are by no means so destruc- | tivo as was tho caso a few weeks ago. j In spite of the frosts, our reporter learnt that there has been a particularly fine growth' of vegetation during the past few .weeks."