WHEAT GROWING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 12

WHEAT GROWING

;■;;■£■•; FARMERS' PATRIOTISM ... : DUTY BEFORE PROFIT '.'. After a strenuous week consulting with-'farniers and addressing meetings on the subjeet'o't growing wheat,- the Minister of Agriculture has.retun.ed to [Wellington, -full of confidence that his efforts:.'will 'prove' successful, and that next .'year's requirements of wheat will ' be fully met, says the "Fanners' Union Advocate." ,Wo .aro . particularly pleased with the splendid reception which the farmers have accorded to -.the''Minister,- and with, the patriotic spirit'exhibited towards the unalluring ..task:.of growing .wheat under most adverse conditions. The Minister wisely Recognised that he would be more likely, "to succeed by ah appeal to the patriot,'ism of :the farmers rather than to their •pockets, and though ho has increased 'lis original offer,-it is quite certain that "if sufficient wheat-is''grown'it will be because the farmers realise it to he a duty to grow'wheat,'and not for the profit they expect to make. Should .the resujt of next year's harvest prove sufficient for the needs of the Dominion, Mr. Macdonald may take a great deaL of credit to-himself, for it may safely be said that, had lie quietly, stayed in his office instead of exerting himself as.he.has done, the area put dowri in wheat would be very ■small indeed. The past three years' .(experience of wheat-growing has been a financial standpoint, and only for the fact that most.farmers 3o not rely entirely upon wheat, but go fn for grazing or pasture crops, $heir losses would nave caused many to seek the protection of the Bank•ruptcy' Court. With such satisfactory prices for wool and meat and the ''smaller, amount of labour required, 'one can well understand the opposition, which had to be. broken down to iget farmers to promise another effort ,to grow wheat; but it was, not. only 'these difficulties "that stood in the way; Vthe weather, which, is beyond the control ..of the farmer, has been so dry that it has been to break tip: the ground forautumn .sowing,, and teams which should have been hard at ,work have had : to"stand idle, ■ This means.a tremendous, rush in.the spring, and unless more rain conies soon it jwill lie. impossible ;to .get ,th'e wheat, in. However, the farmers have shown the Minister that'they are anxious to ido what they dan to meet his wishes, and so far as weather and labour. jier- : \mits they will grow- wheat.'' It seems•scarcely likely that another year of; ■dry weather will be'experienced, and the probabilities are that: the. farmers will be rewarded with good ■ crops,, where, .they are lucky ..enough ■■ to get; them.in. The cost of,production may; not leave them much margin for pro- : fit, hut all the more'credit will he, due to them for their loyal efforts. ."

'Cattle of all'descriptions'are in keen idemand in Southland at present. A fWanganui buyer has secured some 600 joung cattle, which he has consigned: *to the North Island. • ; October calves (brought up to £5 7s. 6d. recently, and at Tuesday's sale at "Wallacetowh fat cattle realised up: to '46s v ;per 1001b. IFor.a hullock of exceptional ' and quality £31 was offered, at which price he was passed in, the: owner's reserve being £35. -.-' The weight of the beast iffas' estimated at 14001b's.